Functional Assessment Catheter for Lung Collateral Ventilation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) through lung volume reduction surgery and endobronchial volume reduction are invasive, costly, and inefficient due to the need for separate diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, particularly in patients with collateral ventilation, which can reduce the effectiveness of treatment.

Innovation Solution

A catheter with a flow restrictive component is used to detect and treat collateral ventilation in a single protocol, allowing for the isolation of diseased lung compartments using occlusive or restrictive stents that can be permanently implanted if collateral ventilation is not present, thereby reducing treatment time and improving patient comfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If separate diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are performed, then detection accuracy is improved, but treatment time and patient discomfort increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidtreatment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines diagnostic and therapeutic functions into a single integrated catheter system. The catheter includes both assessment capabilities (flow measurement, pressure sensing) and treatment capability (flow restrictive component deployment) in one device, allowing both diagnosis and treatment to be performed during a single procedure, thereby reducing treatment time and patient discomfort while maintaining detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The catheter is designed as a multi-functional device that can perform multiple functions: assessing collateral ventilation through flow measurement, detecting pressure gradients, and deploying flow restrictive components for treatment. This universal design eliminates the need for separate diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, addressing the contradiction by consolidating multiple functions into one instrument.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If flow restrictive component is permanently implanted, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but risk of complications increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidcomplication risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The flow restrictive component is designed to be deployable and retrievable rather than permanently fixed. The catheter system allows the flow restrictive component to be positioned, tested for effectiveness, and then either left in place or retrieved based on patient response. This dynamic approach allows the treatment to be adjusted or reversed if complications arise, maintaining treatment effectiveness while reducing permanent commitment and associated risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows for preliminary assessment and testing of the flow restrictive component before permanent implantation. The diagnostic functions of the catheter enable evaluation of collateral ventilation and prediction of treatment response before the flow restrictive component is permanently deployed, allowing clinicians to avoid permanent implantation in patients who are unlikely to benefit or who may be at high risk for complications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If invasive surgical procedures are performed, then lung volume reduction is achieved, but patient trauma and recovery time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelung volume reduction efficacyVSAvoidpatient trauma

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces invasive mechanical surgical procedures (stapling, cutting, resection) with a less invasive endoscopic approach. The flow restrictive component is deployed through a catheter introduced via the airway, avoiding external incisions and direct surgical manipulation of lung tissue. This substitution maintains the ability to achieve lung volume reduction while significantly reducing patient trauma, blood loss, and recovery time compared to traditional surgical methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11931170B2Functional assessment and treatment catheters and methods for their use in the lung

Publication Date: 2024.03.19 PULMONX CORP

AI summary

Lung conditions are diagnosed and optionally treated using a functional assessment catheter or a functional lung assessment and treatment catheter. A flow restrictive component is initially placed in a bronchus or lung passageway upstream from a diseased lung region. The isolated lung region is then functionally assessed through the catheter, while the flow restrictive component remains in place. If the patient is a good candidate for treatment by occlusive or restrictive treatment techniques, the flow resistive component may be left in place. If the patient is not suitable for such treatment, the flow resistive component may be removed.