The speed and range of the transition to low lung PO.sub.2 can be optimized such that it approaches the PO.sub.2 and timing profile of reoxygenation from a hypoxic profile. However, such hypoxic spikes are much more difficult to implement than re-oxygenation. A solution is to control the independent variables which contribute to hypoxia in the lung. These variables may be controlled in alone or in aggregate to minimize the time required to generate a target profile of transient lung hypoxia. In particular, a rapid decrease in [dOHb] can be implemented by breathing deeply, exhaling at least a portion of the functional residual capacity, lowering the PO.sub.2 at baseline, increasing the breathing rate, and increasing the PCO.sub.2 to shift the oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve to the right.

A method for treating the lung during an acute episode of reversible chronic obstructive pulmonary disease such as an asthma attack. The method comprises transferring energy to an airway wall of an airway such that a diameter of the airway is increased. The energy may be transferred to the airway wall prior to, during or after an asthma attack. The energy may be transferred in an amount sufficient to temporarily or permanently increase the diameter of the airway. The method may be performed while the airway is open, closed or partially closed.

A system for delivering a flow of gas to an airway of a patient respiratory system includes a gas flow generator, a sensor, and a loop gain controller. The loop gain controller selectively controls the flow of gas to the airway according to a positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy mode. The loop gain controller comprises (a) a stability metric module, (b) a condition monitoring module that monitors ventilation characteristics of the flow of gas in the patient respiratory system and provides an output indicative of monitored ventilation characteristics, (c) a loop gain decision module that determines a future ventilation characteristic target and plant gain target, (d) a therapy prescription decision module that determines a therapy command pressure or delivery characteristic, and (e) a pressure delivery module that controls the gas flow generator to deliver the flow of gas at the determined therapy command pressure or delivery characteristic for a future breath.

Systems and methods for perfusing a treatment solution into the blood stream of particular organs while isolating those organs from the systemic vasculature as a whole. By deploying both collection and supply catheters, some having balloons on their distal ends, to particular locations within the body, various organs can be isolated so that the treatment solution can be delivered directly thereto. By isolating the organs, any side effects that may occur from a systemic introduction of the treatment solution are avoided. The method may be used to isolate not just organs, but specific tumors within certain organs for oncology treatment.

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.

A diagnostic contrast composition includes a carrier fluid and a non-decaying gas-evolving fluid incorporated in the carrier fluid. The gas-evolving fluid has a vapor pressure sufficient to evolve the gas from a circulatory system within a lung of a patient. The gas-evolving fluid is a composition containing a sufficient quantity of atoms with an atomic number higher than 8 to provide an increased absorption sufficient to increase a Hounsfield Unit measurement in an image in a CT imaging system. The gas-evolving fluid is selected from the group consisting of xenon gas, krypton gas, sulfur hexafluoride, a perfluorocarbon, a brominated perfluorocarbon, and combinations thereof. The carrier fluid is selected from the group consisting of water, saline, saline comprising one or more blood proteins, and saline comprising dissolved lipids.

Various embodiments disclosed relate to drug-coated balloon catheters for treating strictures in body lumens and methods of using the same. A drug-coated balloon catheter for delivering a therapeutic agent to a target site of a body lumen stricture includes an elongated balloon having a main diameter. The balloon catheter includes a coating layer overlying an exterior surface of the balloon. The coating layer includes one or more water-soluble additives and an initial drug load of a therapeutic agent.

A system and method are provided for dynamically controlling operation of a mechanical ventilator for automatic targeting of a monitored parameter. A ventilator prescription includes an initial ventilator configuration, a prescribed target biometric value, comparator formulae for comparing a current condition value to the prescribed target biometric value, and modification formulae for generating modification parameters to modify the current configuration of the system. The ventilator system operates according to the initial configuration, continuously monitors patient biometric sensors and system biomarker calculators, periodically determines a current condition value, and compares the current condition value to the target biometric value. If the current condition value does not meet the target biometric value, the system generates modification parameters to modify the current configuration of the system and automatically reconfigures the current configuration according to the modification parameters to meet the prescribed target value.

The disclosed subject matter relates to a device, system and method for locating and repairing a pulmonary air leak in a patient.

Devices, systems for localized delivery of a chemotherapy, hormonal therapy or targeted drug/biologic therapy to a target tissue area of an internal body organ of a patient. A catheter 10 forms a sealed treatment chamber in a natural lumen extending through the target tissue area. Air is purged from the chamber, which is then filled with a liquid drug solution for an adequate treatment session time, solution volume and drug concentration to saturate the target tissue area, thereby providing the treatment. The liquid drug solution may be circulated or recirculated through the chamber or maintained stationary therewithin. The drug may saturate the target tissue area and pass therethrough into the lymphatic system or interstitial space, which may serve as a reservoir of the drug for continued therapeutic treatment after withdrawal of the catheter. The chamber is evacuated at the end of the treatment session.