Abstract: A container for a medical device having a housing defining a cavity for receiving the device, a coupling zone external to the cavity, and an exit aperture between the cavity and the coupling zone; and a bearing surface located within the cavity, the bearing surface, exit aperture and coupling zone defining an exit path along which the device can be moved for deployment from the container. The bearing surface is spaced from the exit aperture and arranged, together with the coupling zone, such that the exit path is substantially straight. The cavity is approximately cylindrical, and the bearing surface, the exit aperture, and the coupling zone are aligned such that the exit path extends in a direction that is substantially tangential to the cavity. The housing comprises a two part structure joined together in a plane substantially orthogonal to the exit path. The housing defines a substantially unobstructed cavity for receiving the device.

Abstract: Embodiments include a transition section for coupling a distal section and a proximal section of the guidewire. The transition section includes a main body having a first outer diameter; proximal and distal pin extensions having second and third outer diameters, wherein the proximal pin extension is configured to be fixed to the proximal section of the guidewire, and the distal pin extension is configured to be inserted into and fixed to the distal section of the guidewire. The distal pin extension includes a bore for receiving an inner core of the distal section of the guidewire. The first outer diameter may be greater than the second and third outer diameters. Also disclosed are methods of manufacturing a guidewire with such a transition section.

Abstract: Guidewires suitable for use in a system for implanting a lung volume reduction device are disclosed. The guidewire includes an outer sheath having proximal and distal ends, and comprising a proximal section, a transition section, and a distal section. The proximal section extends from the proximal end of the sheath to the transition section, and the distal section extends from the transition section to the distal end of the sheath. The distal section defines a bore extending from the transition section to the distal end of the sheath and an inner core having proximal and distal ends. The inner core extends through the bore of the distal section of the sheath, wherein the inner core is fixed to the sheath at the transition section, and wherein the distal end of the inner core is fixed to the distal end of the sheath at the distal end of the sheath.

Abstract: A container for a medical device having a housing defining a cavity for receiving a device, such as a lung volume reduction coil, is disclosed. In some embodiments, the container includes a coupling zone external to the cavity, an exit aperture between the cavity and the coupling zone, and a bearing surface located within the cavity, the bearing surface, exit aperture and coupling zone defining an exit path along which the device can be moved for deployment from the container. The bearing surface is spaced from the exit aperture and arranged, together with the coupling zone, such that the exit path is substantially straight. In some embodiments, the cavity may be approximately cylindrical, and the bearing surface, the exit aperture, and the coupling zone are aligned such that the exit path extends in a direction that is substantially tangential to the cavity.

Abstract: The invention provides improved medical devices, therapeutic treatment systems, and treatment methods for treatment of the lung. The invention includes methods, systems, and devices for applying a first lung volume reduction action to the functionally impaired lung tissue so as to reduce its volume to less than a pre-treatment volume; and applying a pro-inflammatory stimulus to the functionally impaired lung tissue having reduced volume, that stimulus being sufficient to induce fibrosis in the functionally impaired lung tissue. The pro-inflammatory stimulus may be separate and additional to that of the lung volume reduction action.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides improved medical devices, systems, and methods, particularly for treating one or both lungs of a patient with an implant, such as a coil, having a strength tuned to a patient's tissue treatment region. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention include implant assemblies and systems for treating a lung of a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The implant assemblies may comprise an elongate body comprising an alloy that may be characterized by its austenite final tuning. The implant may include multiple portions that may be of different austenite final tunings.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides improved medical devices, systems, and methods, particularly for treating one or both lungs of a patient with an implant, such as a coil, having a strength tuned to a patient's tissue treatment region. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention include a method for treating a lung of a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The method comprises determining a regional tissue density of at least a portion of lung tissue of the patient and selecting between first and second coils based on the determined regional tissue density of the portion of lung tissue. In particular, the first coil has a first austenite final tuning and second coil has a second austenite final tuning different than the first tuning. Determining may comprise imaging at least the portion of lung tissue of the patient so as to identify a localized lung tissue density.

Abstract: A container for a medical device having a housing defining a cavity for receiving a device, such as a lung volume reduction coil, is disclosed. In some embodiments, the container includes a coupling zone external to the cavity, an exit aperture between the cavity and the coupling zone, and a bearing surface located within the cavity, the bearing surface, exit aperture and coupling zone defining an exit path along which the device can be moved for deployment from the container. The bearing surface is spaced from the exit aperture and arranged, together with the coupling zone, such that the exit path is substantially straight. In some embodiments, the cavity may be approximately cylindrical, and the bearing surface, the exit aperture, and the coupling zone are aligned such that the exit path extends in a direction that is substantially tangential to the cavity.

Abstract: Guidewires suitable for use in a system for implanting a lung volume reduction device are disclosed. The guidewire includes an outer sheath having proximal and distal ends, and comprising a proximal section, a transition section, and a distal section. The proximal section extends from the proximal end of the sheath to the transition section, and the distal section extends from the transition section to the distal end of the sheath. The distal section defines a bore extending from the transition section to the distal end of the sheath and an inner core having proximal and distal ends. The inner core extends through the bore of the distal section of the sheath, wherein the inner core is fixed to the sheath at the transition section, and wherein the distal end of the inner core is fixed to the distal end of the sheath at the distal end of the sheath.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices are disclosed for the efficient and coordinated delivery of COPD treatment to the lung(s) of a patient. A lung volume reduction system is disclosed comprising an implantable device adapted to be delivered to an airway of a patient in a constrained configuration and to change to a tissue-compressing configuration when deployed at a target zone to provide treatment to the lung airway. The invention further discloses a method of quickly and efficiently deploying the device using a single coordinated motion or signal which may be particularly useful when multiple devices are deployed at multiple target zones.