Abstract: A device, system, and method provides for removing deleterious tissue from healthy body tissue at a site inside a patient. The device includes a steerable electrosurgery device having a electrode to cut a core through tissue, including tissue surrounding a perimeter of the deleterious tissue, and has a lumen for aspirating the cored tissue from the patient. The electrode may form a closed loop, and may be the active electrode of an electrosurgery system. Further, the electrode may have a narrow profile. In addition, the electrode may be arranged to coagulate the cut tissue. The system includes the device and a seal to limit air leaks and bleeding resulting from the removal of cored tissue.

Abstract: A constriction device that constricts body tissue is configured to be safely sutured to constricted body tissue. The device includes a generally cylindrical elastic sleeve including opposed opened ends and having a wall of substantially uniform thickness that receives body tissue therein to be constricted. The sleeve includes a plurality of suture holes to receive a suture to maintain the sleeve the tissue constricted by the sleeve. The sleeve includes a suture hole reinforcement structure, as for example an increased wall thickness, about each suture hole to permit the device to be sutured to constricted body tissue without damaging the device.

Abstract: A system and method deploys a bronchial obstruction device in an air passageway communicating with a lung portion to be at least temporarily collapsed. The system includes a conduit configured to be passed down a trachea, into a bronchus communicating with the trachea and into the air passageway communicating with the lung portion. The system further includes a capsule dimensioned to house the bronchial obstruction device and to be advanced down an internal lumen of the conduit into the air passageway. The capsule has a break-away distal end configured to release the bronchial obstruction device for deployment in the air passageway upon being pushed from the capsule by a pusher member.

Abstract: An intra-bronchial device may be placed and anchored 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, and an anchor that anchors the obstruction device within the air passageway. The anchor may piercingly engage the air passageway wall. The anchor may be releasable from the air passageway for removal of the obstructing member. The anchor may be releasable by collapsing a portion of the obstructing member, or by drawing the obstructing member toward the larynx. The obstructing member may be a one-way valve.

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: An intra-bronchial device provides a medicant intra-bronchially. The medicant may be used for controlling biological interaction of an intra-bronchial obstruction device with the patient, to treat a disease or condition of the lungs such as pneumonia or lung cancer, or to treat a systemic disease or condition. The medicant is provided by associating a medicant with the intra-bronchial device, either before, at the time of placement, or after placement. The medicant may overlie at least a portion of the intra-bronchial device, be absorbed into at least a portion of the intra-bronchial device, or be carried in a chamber. The intra-bronchial device may further include an absorptive member, and the medicant is absorbed by the absorptive member.

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: 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: A system and method deploys a bronchial obstruction device in an air passageway communicating with a lung portion to be at least temporarily collapsed. The system includes a conduit configured to be passed down a trachea, into a bronchus communicating with the trachea and into the air passageway communicating with the lung portion. The system further includes a capsule dimensioned to house the bronchial obstruction device and to be advanced down an internal lumen of the conduit into the air passageway. The capsule has a break-away distal end configured to release the bronchial obstruction device for deployment in the air passageway upon being pushed from the capsule by a pusher member.

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 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: A device and method treats pulmonary disease of a patient by expanding the thorax of the patient. Following surgical sternotomy, a separator is implanted in the thorax between the facing sternum surfaces resulting from the surgical sternotomy. The separator has a longitudinal dimension with opposing sidewalls extending along the longitudinal dimension and a width dimension. The facing surfaces of the sternum are engaged with the opposing sidewalls of the separator. Thereafter, the sternum is fixed to the separator for maintaining the sternum in engagement with the opposing sidewalls of the separator and thus maintaining the expanding condition of the thorax.

Abstract: A system and method deploys a bronchial obstruction device in an air passageway communicating with a lung portion to be at least temporarily collapsed. The system includes a conduit configured to be passed down a trachea, into a bronchus communicating with the trachea and into the air passageway communicating with the lung portion. The system further includes a capsule dimensioned to house the bronchial obstruction device and to be advanced down an internal lumen of the conduit into the air passageway. The capsule has a break-away distal end configured to release the bronchial obstruction device for deployment in the air passageway upon being pushed from the capsule by a pusher member.

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: 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: 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 constriction device that constricts body tissue is configured to be safely sutured to constricted body tissue. The device includes a generally cylindrical elastic sleeve including opposed opened ends and having a wall of substantially uniform thickness that receives body tissue therein to be constricted. The sleeve includes a plurality of suture holes to receive a suture to maintain the sleeve the tissue constricted by the sleeve. The sleeve includes a suture hole reinforcement structure, as for example an increased wall thickness, about each suture hole to permit the device to be sutured to constricted body tissue without damaging the device.

Abstract: An air passageway obstruction device includes a frame structure and a flexible membrane overlying the frame structure. The frame structure is collapsible upon advancement of the device into the air passageway, expandable into a rigid structure upon deploying in the air passageway and recollapsible upon removal from the air passageway. The flexible membrane obstructs inhaled air flow into a lung portion communicating with the air passageway. The device may be removed after deployment in an air passageway by recollapsing the device and pulling the device proximally through a catheter.

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 apparatus and method reduces the size of a lung. The apparatus includes a jacket of flexible fabric configured to cover at least a portion of the lung. A lace, carried by the jacket, collapses the jacket about the lung portion. The jacket may further include a drawstring circumscribing the jacket at the base for closing the open base of the jacket about the lung portion. The collapsing of the jacket may be employed for both reducing the size of the lung and maintaining the lung in a reduced size condition or the lung portion may be deflated prior to the placement of the jacket over the lung portion, in which case, the jacket serves to prevent re-expansion of the lung portion.