Flexible pneumostoma management system and methods for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

A flexible pneumostoma management device maintains the patency of a pneumostoma while controlling the flow of material through the pneumostoma. The pneumostoma management device includes a pneumostoma vent having a tube which enters the pneumostoma to allow gases to escape the lung, a flange and a filter/valve to control flow of materials through the tube. The flange is a thin flexible patch which conforms and attaches to the chest of the patient. The flange secures the tube in position in the pneumostoma.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pneumostoma management device adapted to allow gases to exit parenchymal tissue of a lung through a pneumostoma in a chest of a patient, wherein the pneumostoma management device comprises;
 a tube adapted to be inserted into the chest through the pneumostoma,
 the tube having a lumen, a proximal end and a distal end 
 the distal end of the tube having at least one opening adapted to admit gases from the parenchymal tissue of the lung; 
   a flange connected to the proximal end of the tube such that an opening in the flange connects to the lumen of the tube, and
 the flange projecting a sufficient distance from the tube to preclude passage of flange into the pneumostoma, 
 the flange being sufficiently thin and flexible to conform to the chest of the patient; 
   
       the flange having an adhesive coating adapted to releasably secure the flange to the chest of the patient. 
     
     
         2 . The pneumostoma management device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a chest mount which comprises a patch;
 the patch being sufficiently thin and flexible to conform to the chest of the patient the patch having an aperture larger in diameter than the tube; 
 the chest mount having a distal surface having an adhesive coating adapted to releasably secure the chest mount to the chest of the patient; 
   whereby the chest mount is adapted to be secured to the chest of the patient by the adhesive coating on the distal surface, the tube is selectively inserted into a pneumostoma through the aperture in the patch, and the pneumostoma management device is selectively secured to the chest mount by the adhesive coating on the flange.   
     
     
         3 . The pneumostoma management device of  claim 1 , wherein the flange and tube are formed in one piece. 
     
     
         4 . The pneumostoma management device of  claim 1 , wherein the tube is an extruded tube which is formed separately from the flange and then bonded to the flange. 
     
     
         5 . The pneumostoma management device of  claim 1 , wherein the tube is connected substantially centrally to the flange. 
     
     
         6 . The pneumostoma management device of  claim 1 , including a filter wherein the filter is too large to fit through the lumen of the tube. 
     
     
         7 . A medical device to allow gases to exit a lung through a pneumostoma and from parenchymal tissue of a lung in a chest of a patient, wherein the medical device comprises;
 a substantially planar flange having a contact surface adapted to contact the chest of the patient and an outer surface;
 the flange being substantially larger in size than a pneumostoma, 
 the flange being sufficiently thin and flexible to conform to the chest; 
 the contact surface having an adhesive coating adapted so that the flange can be releasably secured to the chest of the patient, 
 the flange having an opening; 
 a tube projecting from the flange; and 
 the tube adapted to be inserted into the chest through the pneumostoma and into the parenchymal tissue of the lung, 
 the tube having a lumen, a proximal end and a distal end,
 the distal end of the tube having at least one opening adapted to admit gases from the parenchymal tissue of the lung, 
 
 the proximal end of the tube being connected to the flange such that the opening in the flange communicates with the lumen of the tube. 
   
     
     
         8 . The medical device of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a chest mount which comprises a patch at least as large in diameter as the flange;
 the patch being sufficiently thin and flexible to conform to the chest of the patient the patch having an aperture larger in diameter than the tube; 
   the chest mount having a distal surface having an adhesive coating adapted to releasably secure the chest mount to the chest of the patient;   whereby the chest mount is adapted to be secured to the chest of the patient by the adhesive coating on the distal surface of the chest mount, the tube is selectively inserted into a pneumostoma through the aperture in the patch, and the pneumostoma vent is selectively secured to the chest mount by the adhesive coating on the flange.   
     
     
         9 . The medical device of  claim 7 , wherein the flange and tube are formed in one piece. 
     
     
         10 . The medical device of  claim 7 , wherein the tube is an extruded tube which is formed separately from the flange and then bonded to the flange. 
     
     
         11 . The medical device of  claim 7 , including a filter and wherein the filter is too large to fit into through the lumen of the tube. 
     
     
         12 . The pneumostoma management device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the adhesive coating comprises a hydrocolloid adhesive adapted to releasably secure the flange to the chest of the patient. 
 
     
     
         13 . The pneumostoma management of  claim 1  wherein:
 the adhesive coating comprises a hydrocolloid adhesive adapted to releasably secure the flange to the chest of the patient; and 
 a hydrophobic filter disposed over the opening in the flange and secured to one of the flange and tube such that gases passing into and out of the lumen of the tube pass through the filter, wherein the filter is substantially flush with the flange. 
 
     
     
         14 . The medical device of  claim 7  wherein:
 the adhesive coating comprises a hydrocolloid adhesive adapted to releasably secure the flange to the chest of the patient. 
 
     
     
         15 . The pneumostoma management device adapted to allow gases to exit parenchymal tissue of a lung through a pneumostoma in a chest of a patient, wherein the pneumostoma management device comprises;
 a tube adapted to be inserted into the chest through the pneumostoma,
 the tube having a lumen, a proximal end and a distal end; 
 the distal end of the tube having at least one opening adapted to admit gases from the parenchymal tissue of the lung; 
   wherein the distal end of the tube has an atraumatic tip; and   a flange connected to the proximal end of the tube such that an opening in the flange connects to the lumen of the tube,   the flange projecting a sufficient distance from the tube to preclude passage of flange into the pneumostoma,   the flange being sufficiently thin and flexible to conform to the chest of the patient;   the flange having an adhesive coating adapted to releasably secure the flange to the chest of the patient.   
     
     
         16 . The pneumostoma management device of  claim 15 , wherein the flange and tube are formed in one piece. 
     
     
         17 . The pneumostoma management device of  claim 15 , wherein the tube is an extruded tube which is formed separately from the flange and then bonded to the flange. 
     
     
         18 . The pneumostoma management device of  claim 15 , wherein the tube is connected substantially centrally to the flange. 
     
     
         19 . The pneumostoma management device of  claim 15  including a filter, wherein the filter is too large to fit through the lumen of the tube. 
     
     
         20 . The pneumostoma management device of  claim 15  wherein:
 the adhesive coating comprises a hydrocolloid adhesive adapted to releasably secure the flange to the chest of the patient.