Occluding Lung Collateral Flow Channels with Gas-Entrained Particles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional lung volume reduction surgeries are traumatic and often result in unintentional removal of healthy lung tissue and air leakage due to collateral flow channels between adjacent lung segments, which complicates effective treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Innovation Solution

Introducing occlusive particles into collateral flow channels between lung segments using a catheter, where the particles are carried by a gas flow and lodge in the channels to occlude them, potentially coated with hydrogels or adhesives for permanent closure, allowing for subsequent lung volume reduction procedures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional lung volume reduction surgery is performed, then lung function can be improved by reducing effective lung volume, but the procedure is significantly traumatic and may cause air leakage due to collateral flow channels

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of lung volume reductionVSAvoidair leakage from collateral flow channels

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by sealing the collateral flow channels between lung segments before performing the lung volume reduction procedure. This is achieved by introducing occlusive particles through a catheter into the collateral channels to block air leakage pathways in advance, ensuring that subsequent lung resection or volume reduction will not result in harmful air leaks from damaged intersegmental walls.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If open chest or thoracoscopic procedures are used for lung resection, then diseased portions can be removed effectively, but healthy lung tissue may be unintentionally removed and the procedure is significantly traumatic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of disease resectionVSAvoidremoval of healthy lung tissue

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by treating each lung segment independently with occlusive particles delivered through catheters positioned in specific airways. This allows precise targeting of collateral channels associated with diseased segments while preserving healthy lung tissue, avoiding the need for broad resection that would remove healthy tissue. The fibrous septa between segments are sealed individually to maintain segmental independence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Object-affected harmful factors

If endobronchial lung volume reduction is performed without sealing collateral channels, then the procedure is less traumatic, but air can reenter isolated segments through collateral flow channels reducing treatment effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrauma from procedureVSAvoidisolation of diseased lung segments

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses occlusive particles as an intermediary substance to seal the collateral flow channels. These particles are introduced through a catheter and lodge in the collateral channels, acting as a mediator that blocks the pathological air pathways between lung segments. This allows the lung segments to be effectively isolated for volume reduction without requiring traumatic surgical intervention, while still preventing air reentry through the sealed collateral channels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Effectively seals collateral flow channels, preventing air leakage and enabling more successful lung volume reduction by anchoring particles with tissue contraction and promoting permanent closure, thus improving lung function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Implementation Method 1

establishing a gas flow through the collateral flow channels in a wall between the at least two adjacent lung segments. Particles entrained in the gas flow lodge in the flow channels to occlude the collateral flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas flow entrainment: Entrainment

Implementation Method 2

the particles are carried by a gas flow and lodge in the channels to occlude them, potentially coated with hydrogels or adhesives for permanent closure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentUS8137302B2Methods and systems for occluding collateral flow channels in the lung

Publication Date: 2012.03.20 PULMONX CORP

AI summary

The lateral flow between adjacent lung segments is occluded by blocking collateral flow channels with particles. A gas flow is established from one lung segment through the flow channels in an intermediate fibrous septum, and out through the adjacent lung segment. Particles entrained in the gas flow become lodged in the collateral flow channels to eventually block flow.