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: 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 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: Methods and systems for minimally invasively treating an air leak in a lung comprise the steps of detecting an air leak in a lung; locating an airway in fluid communication with the air leak, introducing a bronchoscope into a patient's airway to a position adjacent the target section and occluding an airway upstream of the air leak for a period of time. The airway occlusion is preferably removed after the air leak has substantially permanently healed. The method can also include the injection of a substance into the airway on a distal side of the occlusion.

Abstract: An object location, control, and tracking system is implemented using an object identifier variable-based protocol such as SNMP. Infrared sensors, touch memory ports, passive infrared sensors, and external device controllers are all accessed using object identifier variables and in this way stimuli events are reported to a computer on the network, and the external devices are controlled responsive to the stimuli.