Collateral Flow Channel Sealant Delivery for Lung Volume Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Pulmonary diseases such as COPD lead to reduced lung elasticity, trapping air and causing inefficient breathing, and existing treatments struggle to effectively isolate and reduce the volume of diseased lung regions, particularly due to collateral flow channels.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for occluding collateral flow channels between lung compartments using a video-assisted thoracoscopic device, injecting a sealing agent into the channel, and optionally using clips or cutting to disrupt the flow, thereby reducing the collateral flow and enhancing lung volume reduction procedures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a delivery catheter is used to implant occluding devices in airways to regulate fluid flow, then the diseased lung region can be fluidly isolated, but the collateral flow channels between adjacent lung segments remain patent and prevent complete isolation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveisolation effectivenessVSAvoidcollateral flow

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful collateral flow channels from the lung tissue by making incisions in the fissure and removing the channels through the pleural space, thereby eliminating the pathway that prevents complete isolation of the diseased lung segment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the lung tissue by making incisions in the fissure between adjacent lung segments, creating separate compartments that allow independent management of the diseased region while maintaining the integrity of healthy tissue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of moving object

If hyper-expanded diseased lung tissue occupies more pleural space, then the volume of the diseased region increases, but the space available for healthy functioning lung tissue is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediseased lung volumeVSAvoidhealthy lung tissue space

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the hyper-expanded diseased lung tissue from the pleural space through surgical resection, extracting the problematic tissue that is occupying valuable space and preventing the healthy lung tissue from functioning effectively

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent separates the diseased lung segments from the healthy tissue by making incisions in the fissure and removing the diseased portions, thereby creating distinct spaces that allow the healthy lung tissue to expand and function without compression from the diseased tissue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12310594B2Collateral flow channel sealant delivery methods and systems

Publication Date: 2025.05.27 PULMONX CORP

AI summary

Devices, methods, and systems are provided for occluding a collateral flow channel between a target lung compartment and an adjacent lung compartment. A video-assisted thoracoscopic device is inserted into a thoracic cavity of a patient and positioned at a fissure between a target lung compartment and an adjacent lung compartment. A collateral flow channel between the target lung compartment and the adjacent lung compartment is then identified using the video-assisted thoracoscopic device and an agent is injected into the collateral flow channel, thereby reducing the collateral flow channel.