Devices for passive reduction of residual lung volume and expansion of functional lung volume

摘要

A medical device comprising: a catheter (10) for isolating and deflating a hyperinflated pulmonary compartment, said catheter (10) comprising: a catheter body (12) having a distal end (14), a proximal end (16) and at least one lumen (18) extending from the distal end (14) to the proximal end (16), in which at least a distal part of the catheter body is adapted to advance through the airways of the lung; an expandable occlusion member (15) disposed near the distal end (14) of the catheter body, wherein said occlusion member (15) is adapted to expand in an airway that feeds the hyperinflated lung compartment so that it only provides access to the compartment through the lumen (18) when the occlusion member (15) is expanded; and a unidirectional flow assembly (70) comprising: a unidirectional flow element (71) adapted to be arranged in or in line with the lumen (18) so that flow in a distal to proximal direction is allowed and inhibited or flow is prevented in a proximal to distal direction; and a flow sensor (73), a pressure sensor (74) and a valve controller (75); wherein the flow sensor (73) monitors the flow to detect the beginning of an inhalation cycle, the pressure sensor (74) monitors the pressure to detect the beginning of an exhalation cycle and the valve controller (75 ) opens the unidirectional flow element at the beginning of the exhalation cycle to deflate the hyperinflated pulmonary compartment and closes the unidirectional flow element at the beginning of the inhalation cycle to prevent reinflation of the hyperinflated pulmonary compartment.