Devices, systems, and methods for treating pulmonary disease

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods for improving airflow within an airway. One example embodiment includes a method for treating a subject. The method includes (1) placing an expandable object into one or more airways of the bronchial tree of the subject, (2) expanding the expandable object within at least one of the one or more airways such that at least a portion of a wall of the one or more airways is expanded, and (3) placing a stent in the airway such that a portion of the stent is adjacent to the portion of the wall of the one or more expanded airways.

1 - 20 . (Canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for treating a diseased portion of an emphysematous lung that is located at a terminal portion of a bronchial tree within the emphysematous lung, the method comprising:
 placing a stent in a deployed state within two or more connected airways of the bronchial tree of the subject, the stent having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, wherein the stent consists of a single strand extending around the longitudinal axis of the stent, wherein the distal end of the stent is positioned within a first airway of the bronchial tree and the proximal end of the stent is positioned within a second airway of the bronchial tree, and wherein the second airway is a lower generation airway within the bronchial tree than the first airway,   wherein placing the stent into the two or more connected airways causes improved airflow out of the diseased portion of the emphysematous lung, through the two or more connected airways, and into a portion of the bronchial tree that is more central than the diseased portion of the emphysematous lung.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the stent is placed within the two or more connected airways such that no portion of the stent is placed outside of the respective airway walls of the two or more connected airways. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the diseased portion of the emphysematous lung is hyperinflated. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the diseased portion of the emphysematous lung comprises at least one of alveoli, alveolar ducts, or respiratory bronchi with irreversibly destructed alveolar walls. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the second airway is one of a terminal bronchiole, conducting bronchiole, bronchiole, sub-segmental bronchus, segmental bronchus, lobar bronchus, or main bronchus. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the diseased portion of the emphysematous lung comprises trapped air. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the filament is a metal. 
     
     
         28 . A method for treating a diseased portion of an emphysematous lung that is located at a terminal portion of a bronchial tree within the emphysematous lung, the method comprising:
 placing a stent into a pathway of two or more connected airways in the emphysematous lung having (a) a first airway at a distal end of the pathway that comprises either a respiratory bronchiole or a terminal bronchiole within the terminal portion of the bronchial tree at which the diseased portion is located and (b) a second airway at a proximal end of the pathway that is of a lower generation than the first airway, wherein the stent has a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, the stent consisting of a single filament extending around the longitudinal axis of the stent, and wherein the distal end of the stent is positioned within the first airway and the proximal end of the stent is positioned in the second airway,   with the stent, holding at least a portion of the pathway of two or more connected airways at a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the portion of the pathway of two or more connected airways before the stent is placed along the portion of the pathway of two or more connected airways.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the stent is placed within the two or more connected airways such that no portion of the stent is placed outside of the respective airway walls of the two or more connected airways. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the diseased portion of the emphysematous lung is hyperinflated. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the diseased portion of the emphysematous lung comprises at least one of alveoli, alveolar ducts, or respiratory bronchi with irreversibly destructed alveolar walls. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the second airway is one of a sub-segmental bronchus, segmental bronchus, lobar bronchus, or main bronchus. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the diseased portion of the emphysematous lung comprises trapped air. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the filament is a metal. 
     
     
         35 . A method comprising:
 placing a stent into a pathway of connected airways in an emphysematous lung, at least a portion of the pathway comprising diseased airway tissue, the pathway having (a) a first airway at a distal end of the pathway that comprises a bronchiole at which at least some of the diseased airway tissue is located, (b) a second airway at a proximal end of the pathway that comprises a bronchus that is within a central portion of the bronchial tree, and (c) a plurality of intermediate airways located between the first and second airways, wherein the stent has a proximal end, a distal end, an intermediate region between the proximal and distal ends, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends, and wherein the stent consists of a single filament extending around the longitudinal axis, and wherein the stent is placed such that the distal end of the stent is positioned within the first airway, the proximal end of the stent is positioned within the second airway, and the intermediate region is positioned along the plurality of intermediate airways;   with the stent, holding at least a portion of the pathway of connected airways at a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the portion of the pathway of connected airways before the stent is placed along the portion of the pathway of connected airways.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the stent is placed within the connected airways such that no portion of the stent is placed outside of the respective airway walls of the connected airways. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the diseased portion is hyperinflated. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the diseased portion comprises at least one of alveoli, alveolar ducts, or respiratory bronchi with irreversibly destructed alveolar walls. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the diseased portion comprises trapped air. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the filament is a metal.