Delivery methods and devices for implantable bronchial isolation devices

Abstract

Disclosed is a sizing device for sizing an inside diameter of a lung passageway. The device includes an elongate shaft configured for positioning in the lung passageway and a sizing element at the distal end of the shaft. The sizing element defines a range of transverse dimensions that correspond to a range of transverse dimensions suitable for use with a predetermined set of bronchial isolation devices. The device is used to determine the suitability of a bronchial isolation device for use in the lung passageway prior to using a separate delivery catheter to deliver the bronchial isolation device into the lung passageway.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method for delivering a bronchial isolation device into a pulmonary airway, the device comprising:
 advancing a delivery catheter through a bronchoscope so that a distal portion of the delivery catheter extends out of a distal opening in the bronchoscope and into the airway, wherein the bronchial isolation device is housed in the distal portion of the delivery catheter;   positioning sizing elements extending radially outward from the distal portion of the delivery catheter at or near a target location in the airway for delivering the bronchial isolation device;   visualizing with the bronchoscope whether a larger-diameter sizing element on the delivery catheter is contacting a wall of the airway in the target location and a smaller-diameter sizing element is not contacting the wall of the airway; and   delivering the bronchial isolation device at the target location if the larger-diameter sizing element is contacting the wall of the airway and the smaller-diameter sizing element is not contacting the wall.   
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 removing the delivery catheter without delivering the bronchial isolation device if neither the larger-diameter nor the smaller-diameter sizing element contacts the airway wall;   advancing a second delivery catheter with a larger-diameter bronchial isolation device through the bronchoscope;   repeating the positioning and visualizing steps using the second delivery catheter; and   delivering the larger-diameter bronchial isolation device at the target location.   
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 removing the delivery catheter without delivering the bronchial isolation device if both the larger-diameter and the smaller-diameter sizing element contact the airway wall;   advancing a second delivery catheter with a smaller-diameter bronchial isolation device through the bronchoscope;   repeating the positioning and visualizing steps using the second delivery catheter; and   delivering the smaller-diameter bronchial isolation device at the target location.   
     
     
         5 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein positioning the sizing elements comprises positioning two longer extensions positioned opposite one another on the delivery catheter and two shorter extensions positioned opposite one another on the delivery catheter. 
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the positioning step comprises placing a distal tip of the delivery catheter at a distal end of the airway targeted for delivery of the bronchial isolation device, the method further comprising visualizing with the bronchoscope a position of the sizing elements relative to the targeted airway. 
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 6 , wherein the distal portion of the delivery catheter comprises a bronchial lumen depth measuring extension. 
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 6 , wherein placing the distal tip comprises contacting the tip with a tip of a carina of a next more distal airway bifurcation. 
     
     
         9 . A method for delivering a bronchial isolation device into a pulmonary airway, the device comprising:
 advancing a sizing catheter through a bronchoscope so that a distal portion of the sizing catheter extends out of a distal opening in the bronchoscope and into the airway;   positioning sizing elements extending radially outward from the distal portion of the sizing catheter at or near a target location in the airway for delivering the bronchial isolation device;   visualizing with the bronchoscope a larger-diameter sizing element on the sizing catheter contacting a wall of the airway in the target location and a smaller-diameter sizing element not contacting the wall of the airway;   removing the sizing catheter from the bronchoscope;   advancing a delivery catheter housing the bronchial isolation device sized according to diameters of the larger- and smaller-diameter sizing elements through the bronchoscope to the target location; and   delivering the bronchial isolation device at the target location.   
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 10 , wherein advancing the delivery catheter comprises advancing the catheter until a distal tip of the catheter contacts a tip of a carina of a next more distal airway bifurcation, the method further comprising confirming that the bronchial isolation device has a desired length by visualizing a position of the sizing elements relative to the target location in the airway.