414results about "Tracheae" patented technology

Devices and methods for altering gaseous flow within a lung to improve the expiration cycle of an individual, particularly individuals having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The methods and devices create channels in lung tissue and maintain the patency of these surgically created channels in tissue. Maintaining the patency of the channels allows air to pass directly out of the lung tissue which facilitates the exchange of oxygen ultimately into the blood and / or decompresses hyper-inflated lungs.

Disclosed are methods and devices for regulating fluid flow to and from a region of a patient's lung, such as to achieve a desired fluid flow dynamic to a lung region during respiration and / or to induce collapse in one or more lung regions. An identified region of the lung is targeted for treatment, such as to modify the flow to the targeted lung region or to achieve volume reduction or collapse of the targeted lung region. The targeted lung region is then bronchially isolated to regulate airflow into and / or out of the targeted lung region through one or more bronchial passageways that feed air to the targeted lung region. The bronchial isolation of the targeted lung region is accomplished by implanting a flow control device into a bronchial passageway that feeds air to a targeted lung region.

This is directed to methods and devices suited for maintaining an opening in a wall of a body organ for an extended period. More particularly devices and methods are directed maintaining patency of channels that alter gaseous flow within a lung to improve the expiration cycle of, for instance, an individual having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The methods and devices disclosed altering gaseous flow within a lung to improve the expiration cycle of individuals having Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Disclosed herein are devices for altering gaseous flow within a lung to improve the expiration cycle of an individual, particularly individuals having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). More particularly, a medical catheter is disclosed to detect the presence of blood vessels and to produce collateral openings or channels through the airway wall so that air is able to pass directly out of the lung tissue to facilitate both the exchange of oxygen ultimately into the blood and / or to decompress hyper-inflated lungs.

A lung volume reduction system is disclosed comprising an implantable device adapted to be delivered to a lung airway of a patient in a delivery configuration and to change to a deployed configuration to bend the lung airway. The invention also discloses a method of bending a lung airway of a patient comprising inserting a device into the airway in a delivery configuration and bending the device into a deployed configuration, thereby bending the airway.

An apparatus and system for delivering a lipophilic agent associated with a medical device including: a medical device, a first lipophilic agent capable of penetrating a body lumen, wherein the transfer coefficients of the first lipophilic agent is by an amount that is statistically significant of at least approximately 5,000, wherein the first lipophilic agent is associated with the medical device, wherein the first lipophilic agent / medical device is placed adjacent to said body lumen, and wherein a therapeutically effective amount of the first lipophilic agent is delivered to a desired area within a subject. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for improving patency in a subject involving placement of a medical device in a body lumen for treating and / or preventing adjacent diseases or maintaining patency of the body lumen.

This is directed to methods and devices suited for maintaining an opening in a wall of a body organ for an extended period. More particularly devices and methods are directed maintaining patency of channels that alter gaseous flow within a lung to improve the expiration cycle of, for instance, an individual having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The present invention provides a branching endoluminal prosthesis for use in branching body lumen systems which includes a trunk lumen and first and second branch lumens. The prostheses comprises a radially expandable tubular trunk portion having a prosthetic trunk lumen, and radially expandable tubular first and second branch portions with first and second prosthetic branch lumens, respectively. A radially expandable tubular Y-connector portion provides fluid communication between the prosthetic trunk lumen and the first and second prosthetic branch lumens. Although it is often considered desirable to maximize the column strength of endoluminal prostheses, and although the trunk portion will generally have a larger cross-section than much of the remainder of a branching endoluminal prostheses, the expanded trunk portion is more axially flexible than the expanded Y-connector portion, as insufficient flexibility along the trunk portion may result in leakage between the prosthesis and the trunk lumen of the body lumen system. In contrast, the Y-connector portion benefits form a less axially flexible structure to avoid distortion of the flow balance between the luminal branches.

The methods and devices disclosed altering gaseous flow within a lung to improve the expiration cycle of individuals having Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

This is directed to methods and devices suited for maintaining an opening in a wall of a body organ for an extended period. More particularly devices and methods are directed maintaining patency of channels that alter gaseous flow within a lung to improve the expiration cycle of, for instance, an individual having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

A device for treating or preventing a vascular condition at a mammalian vascular site, comprises an implant formed from a compressible, reticulated elastomeric matrix in a shape conducive to delivery through a delivery instrument. One or more implants are delivered in a compressed state to the mammmalian vascular site where each implant recovers substantially to its uncompressed state following deployment from a delivery instrument. In a preferred embodiment the matrix comprises cross-linked polycarbonate polyurethane-urea or cross-linked polycarbonate polyurea-urethane. In another preferred embodiment the matrix comprises a cross-linked polycarbonate polyurethane. In a yet further embodiment, the matrix comprises thermoplastic polycarbonate polyurethane or thermoplastic polycarbonate polyurethane-urea.

A method and apparatus for treating snoring of a patient includes providing an implant for altering a dynamic response of a soft palate of the patient to airflow past the soft palate. The implant is embedded in the soft palate to alter the dynamic response. The implant has multiple fibers braided along a length of the implant. The braid includes unbonded ends and air-textured yarns.

Methods and devices are disclosed for manipulating the hyoid bone, such as to treat obstructive sleep apnea. A conformable implant is positioned adjacent a hyoid bone. The spatial orientation of the hyoid bone is manipulated, to affect the configuration of the airway. The implant restrains the hyoid bone in the manipulated configuration. The implant is positioned adjacent to pharyngeal structures to dilate the pharyngeal airway and / or to support the pharyngeal wall against collapse. The implant may be attached to the hyoid bone using a clamp delivery tool that is adapted to releasably engage the implant.

An externally worn tracheal valve has a valve assembly supporting a flexible, resilient lightweight diaphragm centrally thereof. The diaphragm is folded towards the trachea so that air expelled from the trachea will tend to unfold the diaphragm to an extended position to close the valve. During normal breathing the diaphragm remains at least partially folded and the valve remains open. During voice exhalation, the diaphragm extends to close the valve. During high pressure coughing exhalation, the diaphragm may evert, opening the valve to release excessive pressure.

A magnetic arrangement is described for an implantable system for a recipient patient. A planar coil housing contains a signal coil for transcutaneous communication of an implant communication signal. A first attachment magnet is located within the plane of the coil housing and rotatable therein, and has a magnetic dipole parallel to the plane of the coil housing for transcutaneous magnetic interaction with a corresponding second attachment magnet.

The present invention, in an exemplary embodiment, provides a stent, which combines many of the excellent characteristics of both silicone and metal stents while eliminating the undesirable ones. In particular, it is an objective of a preferred embodiment of the present invention to provide a stent that is easily installed, yet removable. Moreover, the stent does not cause material infections and has the capacity to reduce infection. Therefore, a principal objective of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention is to provide a prosthesis that is suitable for both permanent and temporary use while being easy to insert, reposition and remove. This prosthesis is also suitable for targeted delivery of antimicrobial and chemotherapeutic agents. Additionally, a principal objective in accordance with the present invention is to provide a family of stents where the relative hardness / softness of regions of the stent can differ from other regions of the stent to provide additional patient comfort and resistance to radial forces. An exemplary embodiment also provides a family of stents with novel interstice configurations that facilitate flexibility, durability and / or proper installation.

A magnetic arrangement is described for an implantable system for a recipient patient. A planar coil housing contains a signal coil for transcutaneous communication of an implant communication signal. A first attachment magnet is located within the plane of the coil housing and rotatable therein, and has a magnetic dipole parallel to the plane of the coil housing for transcutaneous magnetic interaction with a corresponding second attachment magnet.

Methods and devices are disclosed for manipulating the hyoid bone, such as to treat obstructive sleep apnea. An implant is positioned adjacent a hyoid bone. The spatial orientation of the hyoid bone is manipulated, to affect the configuration of the airway. The implant restrains the hyoid bone in the manipulated configuration. The implant is positioned adjacent to pharyngeal structures to dilate the pharyngeal airway and / or to support the pharyngeal wall against collapse.

A tracheal stent is an expandable tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, an inner surface, and an outer surface. Circumferentially adjacent surface protrusions extend outwardly from the outer surface of the expandable tubular member. These surface protrusions have an outer surface, a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface. When the tracheal stent is deployed, the outer surface of the surface protrusion applies a radial force to a wall of the trachea to remove an airway constriction.

Methods, apparatus, and kits for enhancing breathing in patients suffering from chronic pulmonary obstructive disease are described. The methods and apparatus rely on increasing flow resistance to expiration in a manner which mimics “pursed lip” breathing which has been found to benefit patients suffering from this disease. In a first example, a device is implanted in a trachea or bronchial passage to increase flow resistance, preferably selectively increase resistance to expiration relative to inspiration. In a second embodiment, a mouthpiece is provided, again to increase resistance to expiration, preferably with a lesser increase in flow resistance to inspiration. In a third embodiment, the patient's trachea or bronchial passage is modified by the application of energy in order to partially close the lumen therethrough.

A pharyngeal airway having a pharyngeal wall of a patient at least partially surrounding and defining the airway is treated by selecting an implant dimensioned so as to be implanted at or beneath a mucosal layer of the pharyngeal wall and extending transverse to said wall. The implant has mechanical characteristics for the implant, at least in combination with a fibrotic tissue response induced by the implant, to stiffen said pharyngeal wall to resist radial collapse. The implant is implanted into the pharyngeal wall transverse to a longitudinal axis of the airway.