Bronchial Flow Control Device with Membrane Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating pulmonary diseases like COPD are invasive and inefficient, as they fail to effectively regulate fluid flow to diseased lung regions, leading to inadequate air expulsion and inefficient oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange due to hyper-expanded, less elastic lung tissue.
Innovation Solution
Development of bronchial isolation devices with a flow control mechanism that includes a valve member, frame, and membrane to regulate fluid flow through bronchial passageways, allowing for the implantation of devices that can seal and direct airflow, preventing backflow and enhancing exhalation while maintaining a secure fit within the bronchial passageway.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional surgical methods (lung reduction surgery) are used to treat emphysema, then the volume of diseased lung tissue is reduced, but the procedure is highly invasive and traumatic
Solution Approach 1:
The bronchial passageway is segmented into a proximal portion and a distal portion using the flow control device. The device creates a functional separation that isolates the diseased distal lung region from the proximal healthy regions, allowing selective volume reduction of only the affected segment without removing entire lung lobes or requiring open surgery.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow control device acts as an intermediary element implanted in the bronchial passageway. It includes a membrane seal that interfaces with the bronchial wall and a valve member that mediates airflow between the proximal and distal portions, enabling minimally invasive volume reduction through controlled air trapping rather than direct surgical resection.
2Productivity
If no flow control mechanism is used, then the bronchial passageway remains open for natural airflow, but diseased lung tissue becomes hyper-expanded and cannot expel air effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The valve member provides dynamic flow control that adapts to respiratory cycles. It allows airflow in the exhalation direction to enable volume reduction of diseased tissue while preventing airflow in the inhalation direction to maintain collapse or reduced volume, creating asymmetric dynamic control that improves productivity without permanently altering lung shape.
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes the flow resistance parameter selectively for inhalation and exhalation. By imposing high resistance during inhalation and low resistance during exhalation, the system alters the physical parameters of airflow to achieve effective air expulsion while maintaining reduced lung volume in the diseased region.
3Productivity
If a flow control device is implanted to regulate airflow, then air expulsion is improved, but the device must seal effectively within the bronchial passageway
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane seal is constructed from flexible biocompatible material that can conform to the irregular inner surface of the bronchial passageway. This flexible film creates a reliable seal between the device and the bronchial wall, preventing air leakage while allowing the device to maintain its flow control function for improved air expulsion.
4Ease of operation
If the valve member allows bidirectional airflow, then breathing is facilitated, but backflow prevents effective volume reduction of diseased lung tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The valve member provides dynamic asymmetric flow control that facilitates breathing by allowing exhalation while preventing inhalation into the isolated distal region. This dynamic one-way behavior enables volume reduction by trapping air in the distal region during exhalation, creating the pressure differential needed for effective volume reduction while still permitting normal exhalation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The bronchial isolation devices effectively reduce the volume of diseased lung regions, improve airflow dynamics, and enhance respiratory efficiency by allowing controlled airflow, thereby alleviating symptoms of COPD and other pulmonary diseases.
Implementation Method 1
at least a portion of the flow control device forms a seal with the interior wall of the bronchial passageway when the flow control device is implanted in the bronchial passageway
Implementation Method 2
the membrane provides a fluid pathway from the seal to the valve member to direct fluid flowing through the bronchial passageway into the valve member
Implementation Method 3
the frame including a valve protector region that at least partially surrounds the valve member to maintain the default shape; and a retainer region connected to the valve protector region, the retainer region being formed of a plurality of interconnected struts configured to engage an interior wall of the bronchial passageway to retain the flow control device in a fixed location therein
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a flow control device for a bronchial passageway. The device can includes a valve member that regulates fluid flow through the flow control device, a frame coupled to the valve member, and a membrane attached to the frame. At least a portion of the flow control device forms a seal with the interior wall of the bronchial passageway when the flow control device is implanted in the bronchial passageway. The membrane forms a fluid pathway from the seal into the valve member to direct fluid flowing through the bronchial passageway into the valve member.