Collapsible intra-bronchial valve devices

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 re-collapsible 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 re-collapsing the device and pulling the device proximally through a catheter.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of removing a deployed air passageway obstruction device from an air passageway in which the device is deployed, the method comprising: 
 advancing a catheter through a trachea and into the air passageway, the catheter having an internal lumen;    advancing a retractor through the internal lumen of the catheter to the device;    grasping a portion of the device with the retractor;    collapsing the device to free the device from deployment in the air passageway; and then    pulling the device and the retractor proximally into the internal lumen of the catheter after collapsing the device.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein collapsing the device comprises moving a proximal portion of the device proximally relative to a distal portion of the device.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein grasping comprises grasping a proximal portion of the device.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein grasping further comprises advancing a portion of the retractor through a center of the device and engaging a distal portion of the device.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein collapsing comprises moving the proximal portion proximally relative to the distal portion.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein collapsing the device comprises reducing the diameter of the device to a diameter less than an internal diameter of the catheter.  
     
     
         7 . An intra-bronchial obstruction device comprising: 
 a frame structure comprising a plurality of support members and at least one anchor member; and    an obstructing structure configured to prevent air flow in at least a first direction through a lumen in which the device is deployed;    wherein the frame structure is configured to be collapsed in response to a pair of opposing axial forces.    
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the obstructing structure comprises a membrane overlying and enclosing a portion of the frame structure.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7 , further comprising a proximal ring at a proximal end of the device and a distal ring at a distal end of the device.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the proximal ring is configured to be engaged by endoscopic forceps.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the proximal ring comprises a central opening sized to receive a pin, and the distal ring being configured to engage the pin.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the frame structure is made of nickel titanium.