Variable-Lumen Pulmonary Implant for COPD Hyperinflation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) such as bronchodilators, non-invasive ventilation, and endobronchial lung volume reduction are inadequate in reducing hyperinflation and associated complications like pneumothorax, as they are not effective at a local or regional level and carry significant risks.
Innovation Solution
A pulmonary implant device with a variable lumen and optional one-way valve is placed in airways to create positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), preventing airway collapse and enhancing ventilation by controlling airflow, reducing the risk of pneumothorax through gradual airflow restriction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If endobronchial lung volume reduction is performed, then hyperinflation is reduced, but the risk of pneumothorax and other complications increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs a compliant membrane that dynamically adjusts the lumen cross-sectional area in response to pressure changes. During expiration, increased pressure causes the membrane to deform and reduce the lumen area, creating variable resistance that prevents complete airway collapse while avoiding sudden pressure changes that could cause pneumothorax. This dynamic adaptation allows gradual lung volume reduction without the high complication rates of surgical interventions.
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes the physical parameter of lumen cross-sectional area through membrane deformation. By transforming the rigid lumen into a compliant structure that can change its geometric parameters in response to physiological pressure variations, the device creates variable resistance to airflow. This parameter change enables controlled air trapping and gradual lung volume reduction while maintaining airway patency and preventing barotrauma.
2Productivity
If non-invasive ventilation is applied, then ventilation is improved, but hyperinflation is not reduced and the treatment lacks local efficacy
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the respiratory system by targeting specific airways and lung regions rather than applying uniform ventilation support. By placing the implant in selected airways supplying hyperinflated regions, the device creates localized airflow restriction that promotes deflation of specific lung segments. This segmented approach allows regional treatment of hyperinflation while maintaining overall ventilation, overcoming the limitation of global NIV application.
Solution Approach 2:
The device applies local quality by creating variable resistance specifically in targeted airways rather than throughout the entire respiratory system. The compliant membrane structure provides localized airflow control that can be tailored to the specific needs of affected lung regions. This local intervention reduces hyperinflation in targeted areas while preserving ventilation in healthy regions, providing the local efficacy that NIV lacks.
3Force
If bronchodilators are used, then airway resistance is reduced, but they are not effective in severe COPD and do not address hyperinflation
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs preliminary action by mechanically pre-setting the airflow resistance in targeted airways before physiological demand occurs. The compliant membrane is designed with specific elastic properties that automatically create the desired resistance pattern in response to normal breathing pressures, eliminating the need for continuous pharmacological intervention. This preliminary mechanical configuration addresses hyperinflation directly by controlling air trapping, whereas bronchodilators only address resistance without affecting volume.
4Device complexity
If a fixed lumen device is placed in airways, then airflow control is simple, but it cannot adapt to pressure changes and may cause airway collapse
Solution Approach 1:
The device replaces the rigid fixed lumen with a flexible compliant membrane that can deform in response to pressure changes. This thin film structure allows the lumen cross-sectional area to dynamically adjust during the respiratory cycle, maintaining airway patency during inspiration when pressures are negative and creating resistance during expiration when pressures are positive. The flexible membrane thus provides both adaptability to pressure changes and reliable airway patency without complex control mechanisms.
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
The device effectively reduces hyperinflation and associated complications by stabilizing airways and improving ventilation, while minimizing the risk of pneumothorax through controlled airflow management.
Implementation Method 1
changing a volume of the lumen over time... create positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), preventing airway collapse
Implementation Method 2
an inner wall defining a lumen from a proximal end to a distal end of the device... optional one-way valve
Data Source
AI summary
Certain embodiments provide a method for controlling airflow in a lung of a respiratory system of a patient. The method generally includes placing a device in an airway passage, wherein the device comprises: an outer wall and an inner wall defining a lumen from a proximal end to a distal end of the device and changing a volume of the lumen over time.