Genetically-Associated Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Treatment

Abstract

A system for treating a genetically associated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The system includes a coil implant, wherein the coil implant is configured to increase tension of a lung having alveolar damage caused by a genetic disorder and thereby improve breathing function of the lung. The system includes a delivery system configured to deliver the coil implant into an airway of the lung, wherein the delivery system comprises a cartridge configured to retain the coil implant in a straight configuration. The coil implant is configured to recover to a non-straight, pre-determined shape upon deployment within the airway the lung of the patient.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for treating a patient presenting with a genetically associated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the system comprising:
 a self-recovering first coil implant, wherein the first coil implant is configured to increase tension of a lung having alveolar damage caused by alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) and thereby improve breathing function of the lung; and   a delivery system configured to deliver the first coil implant into an airway of the lung, wherein the delivery system comprises a cartridge configured to retain the first coil implant in a straight configuration;   wherein the first coil implant is configured to recover to a non-straight, pre-determined shape upon deployment within the airway the lung of the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery system further comprises:
 a catheter configured to function as a conduit to deliver the first coil implant to a targeted treatment area of the lung;   a guidewire configured to guide the catheter to the targeted treatment area; and   forceps configured to couple to a proximal portion of the first coil implant for controlling placement and release of the first coil implant at the targeted treatment area.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the proximal portion comprises a straight, stand-off proximal tail to facilitate recapture and positioning of the first coil implant. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first coil implant is configured to compress AATD affected tissue of the lung to allow for increased elastic recoil to other tissue of the lung. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first coil implant comprises passivated nitinol. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first coil implant has a length within a range from 100 mm to 150 mm to allow for placement in a lower lobe of the lung for treatment of panacinar emphysema associated with AATD. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second coil implant, wherein the first coil implant is relatively weak so as to be adapted for implantation in a lower lobe of the lung and the second coil implant is relatively strong so as to be adapted for implantation in an upper lobe of the lung. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first coil implant comprises a trailing proximal end, and wherein the trailing proximal end has a smaller diameter than the rest of the first coil implant. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the trailing proximal end is the most proximal 10 mm of the first coil implant. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first coil implant has a distal end and a proximal end, and wherein the distal end terminates with a distal smooth atraumatic ball and the proximal end terminates with a proximal smooth atraumatic ball. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first coil implant has a self-recovering geometry configured to reside in an airway diameter with an inner diameter of about 2 mm distally and about 6 mm proximally. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge comprises a plastic cylinder with a Luer lock tip. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery system further comprises forceps, wherein the forceps is coupleable with a proximal end of the first coil implant. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a genetic diagnostic sample delivery system, wherein the genetic diagnostic sample delivery system comprises a container for storing a genetic sample. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a genetic diagnostic system configured to:
 receive the genetic sample;   diagnose AATD based on the genetic sample; and   provide an indication suitable for prompting use of the delivery system.   
     
     
         16 . A system for treating a patient presenting with a genetically associated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the system comprising:
 a self-recovering first coil implant, wherein the first coil implant is configured to increase tension of a lung having alveolar damage caused by a genetic disorder and thereby improve breathing function of the lung; and   a delivery system configured to deliver the first coil implant into an airway of the lung, wherein the delivery system comprises a cartridge configured to retain the first coil implant in a straight configuration;   wherein the first coil implant is configured to recover to a non-straight, pre-determined shape upon deployment within the airway the lung of the patient.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the delivery system further comprises:
 a catheter configured to function as a conduit to deliver the first coil implant to a targeted treatment area of the lung;   a guidewire configured to guide the catheter to the targeted treatment area; and   forceps configured to couple to a proximal portion of the first coil implant for controlling placement and release of the first coil implant at the targeted treatment area.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a second coil implant, wherein the first coil implant is relatively weak so as to be adapted for implantation in a lower lobe of the lung and the second coil implant is relatively strong so as to be adapted for implantation in an upper lobe of the lung. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the first coil implant has a length within a range from 100 mm to 150 mm to allow for placement in a lower lobe of the lung for treatment of panacinar emphysema associated with AATD. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a genetic diagnostic sample delivery system, wherein the genetic diagnostic sample delivery system comprises a container for storing a genetic sample.