Devices, systems, and methods for improving airflow within an airway. One example embodiment includes a method for treating a subject. The method includes (1) placing an expandable object into one or more airways of the bronchial tree of the subject, (2) expanding the expandable object within at least one of the one or more airways such that at least a portion of a wall of the one or more airways is expanded, and (3) placing a stent in the airway such that a portion of the stent is adjacent to the portion of the wall of the one or more expanded airways.

Devices, methods, and systems are provided for occluding a collateral flow channel between a target lung compartment and an adjacent lung compartment. A video-assisted thoracoscopic device is inserted into a thoracic cavity of a patient and positioned at a fissure between a target lung compartment and an adjacent lung compartment. A collateral flow channel between the target lung compartment and the adjacent lung compartment is then identified using the video-assisted thoracoscopic device and an agent is injected into the collateral flow channel, thereby reducing the collateral flow channel.

An airway support device of the present disclosure can be attached to tracheal and/or bronchial cartilage on opposing sides of a tracheal and/or bronchial wall to pull the tracheal and/or bronchial cartilages toward each other to reconstruct and/or reshape to a normal anatomy across the membranous tracheal and/or bronchial wall and thus relieving tension across the tracheal and/or bronchial wall. The airway support device can include at least two longitudinal strips that extend longitudinally along and are attached (e.g., sutured) to the trachea and/or bronchus on opposite sides of the tracheal and/or bronchial wall. Lateral strips extending between the longitudinal strips can stretch across the tracheal and/or bronchial wall while under tension. The tracheal and/or bronchial wall can be attached (e.g., sutured) to the lateral strips to open the airway of the trachea and/or bronchus.

The volume of a hyperinflated lung compartment is reduced by sealing a distal end of the catheter in an airway feeding the lung compartment. Air passes out of the lung compartment through a passage in the catheter while the patient exhales. A one-way flow element associated with the catheter prevents air from re-entering the lung compartment as the patient inhales. Over time, the pressure of regions surrounding the lung compartment cause it to collapse as the volume of air diminishes. Residual volume reduction effectively results in functional lung volume expansion. Optionally, the lung compartment may be sealed in order to permanently prevent air from re-entering the lung compartment.

Disclosed are methods and devices for regulating fluid flow to and from a region of a patient's lung, such as to achieve a desired fluid flow dynamic to a lung region during respiration and/or to induce collapse in one or more lung regions. Pursuant to an exemplary procedure, an identified region of the lung is targeted for treatment. The targeted lung region is then bronchially isolated to regulate airflow into and/or out of the targeted lung region through one or more bronchial passageways that feed air to the targeted lung region. An exemplary flow control device is configured to block fluid flow in the inspiratory direction and the expiratory direction at normal breathing pressures and allow fluid flow in the expiratory direction at higher than normal breathing pressures.

Pulmonary treatment devices, systems and methods of use are provided which take into account the vast tissue damage of advanced COPD sufferers and provide treatments designed specifically to treat the particularly compromised lung tissues that are present in these patients. These treatments reduce trapped air volume, tension lung tissue and enhance lung elastic recoil. In particular, a variety of embodiments of invertible pulmonary treatment devices are provided. The devices are comprised of a shape memory material wherein the devices are able to be expanded under tension, and then are able to recoil back toward an original relaxed or resting shape. In these embodiments, a portion of the device is invertible. Thus, each device is able to store energy at least in the inversion, wherein the energy is utilized to continually tension the lung as the device relaxes toward its original shape.

A tubular construct that includes a braided tube embedded therein is disclosed herein. The braided tube may be embedded between layers of the tubular construct or may alternatively be positioned flush with the inside of the tubular construct. The tubular construct is resistant to kinking and has enhanced radial strength. The braided tube reinforces the wall of the tubular construct by improving burst pressure resistance, tube strength, and torque transmission. When radial pressure is applied to the braided tube that is embedded in the construct, the braided tube cannot expand lengthwise. Thus, the compression strength of the construct is increased in the radial direction. This feature takes advantage of the same principle used in the children's toy colloquially known as a Chinese finger trap. The increased radial strength of the tubular construct prevents the construct from collapsing and thereby enhances its structural integrity.

In a method for producing an implant from a biocompatible silicone, a 3D mathematical model of an implant to be produced is used to create a 3D model of a casting mold for the implant as a negative. The casting mold is produced from a polymeric material through an additive manufacturing process and coated through vapor deposition of a coating material from the parylene family at least in a region that comes into contact with the biocompatible silicone to be cast. A platinum-catalyzed 2-component thermosetting silicone as the biocompatible silicone for the implant is introduced into a mold cavity of the coated casting mold, with a residence time of the implant in a patient's body of more than 29 days. The casting mold is heated to vulcanize the biocompatible silicone, and after cooling down the vulcanized implant is demolded from the casting mold.

A bronchial stent includes a first branch configured to widen, open, and/or mechanically support a first airway; an obstructive portion that, when the stent is deployed in the first airway, obstructs a second airway, the second airway forming a branching connection with the first airway; and a feature proximal to the obstructive portion, the feature configured to facilitate opening of the obstructive portion.

The present disclosure describes an implantable channel guide configured to identify and/or a channel created in a patient via an endoscopic navigation procedure. The channel guide includes an elongate body having at least one snare on one end portion thereof and at least one anchor member on a second opposite end portion thereof.