Abstract: An apparatus and method deploy a self-expandable bronchial obstruction device in an air passageway. The apparatus includes a catheter configured to be passed down the trachea. The apparatus further includes a capsule for housing the self-expandable bronchial obstruction device in a sterile environment. The capsule is configured to be advanced down the catheter. The capsule further includes a tubular extension. The capsule has a breakable seam so as to release the bronchial obstruction device in the air passageway upon a proximal force being exerted upon the bronchial obstruction device. The method includes guiding a conduit down a trachea into the air passageway. The method further includes advancing a capsule having a bronchial device therein down an internal lumen of the conduit into the air passageway. The method further includes releasing the bronchial device from the capsule. The method further includes deploying the bronchial device into the air passageway.

Abstract: A system and method provides for the capture of body tissue samples such as lymph nodes. The system includes a bag formed of a flexible material having a first end opened for receiving the body tissue sample and a second end which is closed to the body tissue sample but which permits a vacuum to be pulled through the bag. The system further includes a vacuum tube in which the body tissue sample capture bag may be disposed and a vacuum source that pulls a vacuum through the body tissue sample capture bag for pulling the body tissue sample into the bag through the opened end of the bag.

Abstract: A device according to an aspect of the invention includes an air escapement conduit having an inlet port providing air communication with a chest cavity and an outlet port providing air communication with a vacuum source, the conduit allowing an air flow from the inlet port to the outlet port in response to a pressure differential between the ports, and a detector responsive to the air flow that provides a signal related to the air flow. The device may include an indicator device operable to provide evacuation information in response to the signal. The air escapement conduit may include a bubble chamber or a valving mechanism. The detector may be a pressure differential sensor operable to detect a difference in air pressure between the inlet port and the outlet port, and generate a signal related to the difference.

Abstract: A constriction device that constricts body tissue includes fixation structures for fixing the device on constricted body tissue. The device includes an elongated sleeve including an inner surface and opposed opened ends. The device is formed from expandable or elastic material so that when in an expanded condition, body tissue to be constricted may be received therein and thereafter, when released from the expanded condition, the body tissue is constricted by the device. The fixation structures include a plurality of fixation elements on the inner surface of the sleeve that grasp the body tissue upon release of the sleeve from the expanded condition to fix the device on the constricted tissue.

Abstract: A method of minimally invasively reducing a volume of a hyper-inflated target section of diseased lung comprising the steps of introducing a bronchoscope into a patient's airway to a position adjacent the target section and equilibrating air within the target section with atmospheric air to at least partially deflate the target lung section; injecting an inflammation-causing substance into the target section to precipitate adhesion of the walls within the target lung section, preventing substantial re-inflation of the target section by occluding an airway upstream of the target section for a period of time, and removing the airway occlusion after the target section has substantially permanently been reduced in volume. The injected substance can be autologous blood or a constituent thereof.

Abstract: The present invention includes an intra-bronchial device, system, and method for providing a therapeutic agent to a patient. A device includes a flow control member for placement in an air passageway communicating with a lung portion, and when deployed in the air passageway inhibits a therapeutic agent distal of the control member from moving proximal of the control member, and includes the therapeutic agent associated with the flow control member. The control member may inhibit movement of the therapeutic agent by limiting airflow, and may include a one-way valve limiting exhalation of air from the lung portion. The control member may include a flexible membrane impervious to air flow, or a separator arranged to inhibit the movement of the therapeutic agent. The control member may include at least one anchor, and the anchor may be releasable from the air passageway for removal of the intra-bronchial device.

Abstract: A constriction device that constricts body tissue is viewable under X ray fluoroscopy. The device includes an elongated sleeve. The sleeve includes opposed opened ends and is formed from expandable or elastic material to receive therein, when in an expanded condition, body tissue to be constricted and to constrict the body tissue therein when released from the expanded condition. At least a portion of the sleeve includes X ray opaque material rendering the device visible under X ray fluoroscopy.

Abstract: An electrosurgery device according to an embodiment of the invention captures a lymph nodule and resects it. The lymph node is captured with a vacuum and resected it with an electrode, which minimizes bleeding and limits the potentially malignant node from coming into contact with surround tissue as it is resected and removed. This limits the potential for inadvertent cancer spread. An electrosurgery device according to an embodiment of the invention also allows several lymph nodes to be resected in a single procedure, each lymph node being easily indexed according to its nodal station and stored in a manner that limits the potential for cross-contamination. An electrosurgery device according to an embodiment of the invention further provides a collector for individually receiving resected lymph nodes. The collector may be easily detached and sent to pathology without interrupting resection of other lymph nodes.

Abstract: A constriction device that constricts body tissue and is formed of relatively thin elastic material includes a tear resistance structure to preclude an inadvertent tear in the device from propagating through the device. The tear resistance structure includes a plurality of intersecting ribs formed in the elastic material. The ribs circumscribe the device and define rectangular, square, diamond, wavy, or knurled patterns.

Abstract: The invention provides for treating deleterious body tissue located within healthy body tissue by isolating the deleterious tissue from blood, air, and fluid communication. The device includes two structures, each having a corresponding circumferential surface arranged to circumscribe the deleterious body tissue. When the first and second circumferential surfaces are brought together in an aligned relationship with the deleterious body tissue between the structures, the two circumferential surfaces co-act to isolate the deleterious body tissue from communication with the healthy body tissue. The deleterious tissue is resected according to the invention by allowing it to become ischemic and necrotic, or by excision.

Abstract: An assembly delivers an intra-bronchial device into an air passageway. The assembly includes a delivery catheter having a deployment lumen with a distal end arranged to receive the intra-bronchial device in a delivery configuration, and arranged to be passed down a trachea and advanced to a location for deployment of the intra-bronchial device, and to deploy the intra-bronchial device by retracting the deployment catheter. The assembly further includes a bronchial device supply tool associated with the distal end, and arranged to carry the intra-bronchial device in a storage configuration and to load the intra-bronchial device in a delivery configuration into the deployment lumen of distal end, and the intra-bronchial device carried in the supply tool in a storage configuration. An embodiment of the supply tool includes a storage portion, a delivery portion, and a configuration-changing portion coupled between the storage portion and the delivery portion.

Abstract: A resection device and method permits safe and efficient encapsulation, isolation and resection of body tissue. The device includes a sheath of flexible and severable material configured to receive the body tissue to be resectioned as it is drawn therein. The sheath may be expandable and held in an expanded condition as the body tissue to be resectioned is drawn into the sheath. Thereafter, the sheath is permitted to collapse about the body tissue to contain and constrict the body tissue. Once the body tissue to be resectioned is disposed in the sheath, the sheath is severed to resection the body tissue.

Abstract: The invention provides an implantable tissue constriction device and method for suppressing leakage from resectioned body tissue. The device includes a first elongated member having a constricting surface, and a second elongated member having another constricting surface, the constricting surfaces being arranged in combination to circumscribe tissue to be excised, and further being moveable together in opposition to constrict tissue adjacent to the circumscribed tissue to be excised to an extent necessary to suppress leakage from body tissue remaining after excision of the tissue to be excised. One elongated constrictive surface may include a pliable material arranged to contact the circumscribed tissue and accommodate anatomical variations. The device may include a pivot coupled between the first and second elongated members, about which the constricting surfaces are moveable together in opposition.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for measuring an inside diameter of a body lumen, such as an air passageway. The device includes a flexible catheter having an inflation lumen, a fluid dispenser in fluid communication with the inflation lumen and operable to communicate a measurable fluid volume change with the inflation lumen, and an expandable member in fluid communication with the inflation lumen and having a known relationship between volume and a changeable transverse dimension, the transverse dimension being changeable in response to fluid volume changes of the fluid dispenser and arranged for placement adjacent to opposing portions of an interior wall of the air passageway. The expandable member may be dimensioned for transoral placement into the air passageway, and may comprise a balloon that includes a complaint material.

Abstract: A system and method provides for the capture of body tissue samples such as lymph nodes. The system includes a bag formed of a flexible material having a first end opened for receiving the body tissue sample and a second end which is closed to the body tissue sample but which permits a vacuum to be pulled through the bag. The system further includes a vacuum tube in which the body tissue sample capture bag may be disposed and a vacuum source that pulls a vacuum through the body tissue sample capture bag for pulling the body tissue sample into the bag through the opened end of the bag.

Abstract: A device and method measuring inside diameter of a body lumen. A method includes placing a balloon inside a lumen, the balloon expandable to a transverse dimension in response to fluid ejected from the fluid dispenser, and having a known relationship between volume and the expandable transverse dimension, expanding the balloon until the expandable transverse dimension is adjacent to an interior wall, and determining the lumen diameter in response to the volume of the expanded balloon. A device includes a catheter having an inflation lumen, a fluid dispenser in fluid communication with the inflation lumen and operable to eject a measurable volume of fluid, and a balloon member in fluid communication with the inflation lumen and expandable to a transverse dimension adjacent to opposing portions of an interior wall in response to fluid ejected from the fluid dispenser, and having a known relationship between volume and the expandable transverse dimension.

Abstract: An electrosurgery device according to an embodiment of the invention captures a lymph nodule and resects it. The lymph node is captured with a vacuum and resected it with an electrode, which minimizes bleeding and limits the potentially malignant node from coming into contact with surround tissue as it is resected and removed. This limits the potential for inadvertent cancer spread. An electrosurgery device according to an embodiment of the invention also allows several lymph nodes to be resected in a single procedure, each lymph node being easily indexed according to its nodal station and stored in a manner that limits the potential for cross-contamination. An electrosurgery device according to an embodiment of the invention further provides a collector for individually receiving resected lymph nodes. The collector may be easily detached and sent to pathology without interrupting resection of other lymph nodes.

Abstract: An obstructive device prevents air from being inhaled into a lung portion to collapse the lung portion while providing mucus transport from the lung portion. When placed in an air passageway serving the lung portion, the obstructing member defines a pathway for mucus transport between the obstructing member and the air passageway. The device may include a tubular-shaped anchor to retain the device in the air passageway. A pathway for mucus transport is provided between a portion of the anchor and a portion of the obstructing device.

Abstract: A device according to an aspect of the invention includes an air escapement conduit having an inlet port providing air communication with a chest cavity and an outlet port providing air communication with a vacuum source, the conduit allowing an air flow from the inlet port to the outlet port in response to a pressure differential between the ports, and a detector responsive to the air flow that provides a signal related to the air flow. The device may include an indicator device operable to provide evacuation information in response to the signal. The air escapement conduit may include a bubble chamber or a valving mechanism. The detector may be a pressure differential sensor operable to detect a difference in air pressure between the inlet port and the outlet port, and generate a signal related to the difference.

Abstract: An intra-bronchial device may be placed in an air passageway of a patient to collapse a lung portion associated with the air passageway. The device includes an obstructing member that prevents air from being inhaled into the lung portion to collapse the lung portion, and an anchoring device that anchors the obstructing member in the air passageway by engaging the obstructing member and the air passageway wall. The anchoring device may frictionally engage the obstructing member and the air passageway, or engage both by piercing. The engagement provided by the anchoring device may be releasable for removal of the obstructing member. The anchoring device may be balloon expandable from a first shape to a second shape that engages the obstructing member and the air passageway. The obstructing member may be a one-way valve.