Michael R Hendrickson

US Patent:

6941950, Sep 13, 2005

Filed:

Oct 10, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/270792

Inventors:

Peter M. Wilson - Guilford CT, US
Antony J. Fields - San Francisco CA, US
John G. McCutcheon - Menlo Park CA, US
Michael J. Hendrickson - Redwood City CA, US
Alan R. Rapacki - Redwood City CA, US
David R. Tholfsen - San Francisco CA, US
Michael S. Barrett - Campbell CA, US
Ronald Hundertmark - San Mateo CA, US
Donald Sutton - Pacifica CA, US

Assignee:

Emphasys Medical, Inc. - Redwood City CA

International Classification:

A62B009/06

US Classification:

12820714, 12820026, 12820715, 12820716, 12820024, 128912, 623 111, 623 112, 623 124, 623 9, 600104, 606108

Abstract:

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.