Pulmonary treatment devices, systems and methods of use are provided which take into account the vast
tissue damage of advanced
COPD sufferers and provide treatments designed specifically to treat the particularly compromised
lung tissues that are present in these patients. These treatments reduce
trapped air volume, tension
lung tissue and enhance
lung elastic
recoil. In particular, a variety of embodiments of pulmonary treatment devices are provided. The devices are comprised of a shape memory material wherein the devices are able to be expanded under tension, and then are able to
recoil back toward an original relaxed or resting shape as the devices are deployed into the tissue. This action causes the pulmonary treatment devices to corkscrew into damaged tissue, becoming sufficiently entwined to allow pulling of the tissue by retraction of the device. This in turn re-tensions the lung causing
lung volume reduction.