Collateral Channel Device for Minimally Invasive Lung Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for diagnosing, monitoring, and treating medical conditions in the lungs lack effective minimally invasive techniques for accessing and treating tissue beyond the airway wall, particularly in creating and maintaining collateral channels to relieve hyper-inflated lungs and address conditions like COPD.
Innovation Solution
The development of devices and methods that create extra-anatomic openings or channels through the airway wall, using elongate instruments guided by electromagnetic sensors, and deploying bio-active compositions to maintain patency, including radially expandable conduits with tissue barriers to prevent closure and facilitate delivery of substances or tools directly to lung tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional invasive methods are used to access lung tissue, then diagnostic and treatment capabilities are improved, but patient trauma and recovery time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (collateral channel device with elongate body and opening) that mediates access between the airway lumen and lung parenchyma. This intermediary structure enables minimally invasive access by creating a controlled passage through the airway wall, avoiding the need for traditional invasive surgical approaches while maintaining diagnostic and treatment capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical invasive surgical systems with a less traumatic mechanical system that uses a collapsible elongate body and controlled opening mechanism. The device substitutes aggressive mechanical access with a more refined approach that maintains therapeutic capability while reducing tissue trauma
2Stress or pressure
If collateral channels are created to relieve hyper-inflated lungs, then lung decompression is improved, but channel occlusion and closure risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the elongate body collapsible and the opening controllable. The elongate body can be collapsed to a smaller profile for insertion and then expanded to maintain channel patency. The opening can be dynamically controlled to remain patent while minimizing tissue disruption, addressing both decompression needs and occlusion prevention
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters of the access device - the elongate body transitions between collapsed and expanded states, the opening transitions between closed and patent states. These parameter changes enable the device to maintain channel patency while minimizing tissue trauma and preventing occlusion
3Ease of operation
If openings are created through airway wall, then access to lung parenchyma is improved, but tissue trauma and occlusion increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the access device into distinct functional components: the elongate body that provides structural support, the opening that provides access, and the collapsible portions that enable minimally invasive insertion. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while collectively minimizing overall tissue trauma
4Object-affected harmful factors
If minimally invasive techniques are used, then patient trauma is reduced, but ability to deliver substances and tools to target tissue is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the opening and elongate body to serve multiple functions: providing mechanical access to lung parenchyma, delivering substances therapeutically, and potentially accommodating various tools. This multi-functional design maintains minimally invasive benefits while enhancing adaptability for different treatment needs
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
Enables minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment of lung conditions by creating stable collateral channels that allow air passage and substance delivery to lung parenchyma, reducing tissue trauma and occlusion, thereby improving treatment efficacy and patient outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
providing an electromagnetic sensor or electromagnetic field to guide or track the elongate instrument
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices for diagnosing, monitoring, and/or treating tissue through an opening or port through an airway wall. A passageway is created extending from the airway to the target tissue. The passageway provides local access to the target tissue for treatment instruments and for delivering agents.