Bronchial Isolation Device Delivery Catheter

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for treating pulmonary diseases like emphysema, such as lung reduction surgery, are invasive and not suitable for all patients, and existing bronchial isolation devices for modifying airflow in the lungs are limited in their delivery and deployment techniques.

Innovation Solution

A delivery catheter system with an outer and inner shaft, and a handle mechanism that allows for precise deployment of bronchial isolation devices into bronchial passageways, enabling the bronchial isolation device to be ejected from a housing while maintaining control to prevent misplacement and facilitate easy retrieval.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If lung reduction surgery is performed to treat emphysema, then the hyper-expanded lung tissue can be removed to improve breathing function, but the procedure becomes highly invasive and not suitable for all patients

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebreathing functionVSAvoidinvasiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes only the diseased portion of the lung by implanting a bronchial isolation device in the specific bronchial passageway feeding the affected region. This isolates the target lung region and allows for volume reduction or collapse of only the diseased tissue, rather than requiring removal of entire lung sections as in conventional surgery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The bronchial isolation device serves as an intermediary element implanted in the bronchial passageway to control airflow to the diseased lung region. This device modifies air flow through the bronchial passageway, enabling volume reduction of the target region without direct surgical intervention on the lung tissue itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If conventional surgical methods are used to treat pulmonary diseases, then effective treatment can be achieved, but the procedures are traumatic and have long recovery times

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidrecovery time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traumatic surgical mechanical intervention with a minimally invasive delivery system. The bronchial isolation device is delivered through a catheter system that can be inserted through natural body openings, avoiding large incisions and direct surgical manipulation of lung tissue, thereby reducing trauma and recovery time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If bronchial isolation devices are implanted to modify airflow in targeted lung regions, then volume reduction can be achieved, but precise delivery and deployment become technically challenging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairflow modificationVSAvoiddelivery precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a nested delivery system where the bronchial isolation device is contained within a delivery catheter that can be navigated through the bronchial tree. The device is delivered through a catheter system with outer and inner shafts, allowing precise navigation to the target bronchial passageway while protecting the device during insertion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates radiopaque markers or indicators on the delivery catheter and bronchial isolation device that allow visualization under fluoroscopic or other imaging guidance. This enables the operator to track the position of the delivery system and confirm proper placement in the target bronchial passageway before deploying the device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

4Reliability

If the bronchial isolation device is deployed to isolate diseased lung tissue, then the device can regulate fluid flow, but retrieval or adjustment becomes difficult once implanted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid flow regulationVSAvoiddevice retrieval

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the bronchial isolation device with dynamic characteristics that allow it to be deployed and then potentially retrieved or adjusted. The device can be transitioned from a compressed delivery state to an expanded functional state, and the delivery system is designed to allow for controlled retrieval if needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS7717115B2Delivery methods and devices for implantable bronchial isolation devices

Publication Date: 2010.05.18 PULMONX CORP

AI summary

Disclosed is an apparatus for deploying a bronchial isolation device in a bronchial passageway in a lung of a patient. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an outer shaft having a distal end. A housing is coupled to the distal end of the outer shaft and configured to receive the bronchial device. An inner shaft is slidably disposed within the outer shaft. A handle is adapted to move the outer shaft relative to both the inner shaft and the handle while the inner shaft remains fixed relative to the handle so as to eject the bronchial isolation device from the housing.