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 evaluating a patient for treatment, the method comprising:
 receiving an image of a lung of the patient;   based on the image, determining whether the patient has lung disease characterized by air trapping;   identifying a diseased portion of the bronchial tree to which air trapping is attributed; and   identifying the patient for treatment to improve bidirectional airflow in the bronchial tree by placement of an open-form implant in an airway of the bronchial tree, wherein the open-form implant is configured such that no portion of the open-form implant, when placed in the airway, entirely isolates any given area of a wall of the airway.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the image comprises a CT scan. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the lung disease comprises an obstructive lung disease. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the obstructive lung disease comprises emphysema. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the open-form implant is configured to be placed into a pathway of two or more connected airways in the bronchial tree, wherein the pathway comprises (a) a first airway at a distal end of the pathway within a bronchiole 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. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein a distal end of the open-form implant is configured to be positioned within the first airway and a proximal end of the open-form implant is configured to be positioned in the second airway. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the open-form implant is configured to prevent airway collapse in the bronchial tree, thereby releasing trapped air from the lung of the patient. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the open-form implant comprises a single helical strand. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising selecting a size of the open-form implant for placement in the bronchial tree, based on the image. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising assessing lung function of the patient. 
     
     
         31 . A method for planning treatment of a patient, the method comprising:
 receiving an image of a lung of the patient;   based on the image, determining whether the patient has lung disease characterized by air trapping;   identifying a diseased portion of the bronchial tree to which air trapping is attributed; and   based on the image, selecting a size of an open-form implant for placement in an airway of the bronchial tree to improve bidirectional airflow in the bronchial tree, wherein the open-form implant is configured such that no portion of the open-form implant, when placed in the airway, entirely isolates any given area of a wall of the airway.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the image comprises a CT scan. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the lung disease comprises an obstructive lung disease. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the obstructive lung disease comprises emphysema. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the open-form implant is configured to be placed into a pathway of two or more connected airways in the bronchial tree, the pathway comprising (a) a first airway at a distal end of the pathway within a bronchiole 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 a distal end of the open-form implant is configured to be positioned within the first airway and a proximal end of the open-form implant is configured to be positioned in the second airway. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the open-form implant is configured to prevent airway collapse in the bronchial tree, thereby releasing trapped air from the lung of the patient. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the open-form implant comprises a single helical strand. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising assessing lung function of the patient. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein assessing lung function of the patient comprises administering a pulmonary function test comprising at least one of: spirometry, a measurement of static lung volume, a measurement of diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide, a measurement of airway resistance, a measurement of respiratory muscle strength, and a measurement of arterial blood gases. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein assessing lung function of the patient comprises determining at least one of (i) a ratio of force expiratory volume (FEV) in one second to force to vital capacity (FVC) and (ii) a ratio of residual volume (RV) to total lung capacity (TLC).