Device and method for intra-bronchial provision of a therapeutic agent

Abstract

The present invention includes an intra-bronchial device, system, and method for providing a therapeutic agent to a patient. A device includes a flow control member for placement in an air passageway communicating with a lung portion and when deployed in the air passageway inhibits a therapeutic agent distal of the control member from moving proximal of the control member, and includes the therapeutic agent associated with the flow control member. The control member may inhibit movement of the therapeutic agent by limiting airflow, and may include a one-way valve limiting exhalation of air from the lung portion. The control member may include a flexible membrane impervious to air flow, or a separator arranged to inhibit the movement of the therapeutic agent. The control member may include at least one anchor, and the anchor may be releasable from the air passageway for removal of the intra-bronchial device.

1 . A method for providing a therapeutic agent to a patient, the method including the steps of:
 delivering a therapeutic agent to a lung portion; and   inhibiting movement of the therapeutic agent from the lung portion.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inhibiting step includes the further step of limiting airflow from the lung portion to inhibit therapeutic agent distal of the control member from moving proximal. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , including the further step of maintaining an inflation of the lung portion. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , including the further step of maintaining a collapse of the lung portion. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delivering step is performed with one intra-bronchial device and the inhibiting step is performed with another intra-bronchial device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , including the further step of performing the delivering step again. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inhibiting step includes the further step of implanting an intra-bronchial device in an air passageway in communication with the lung portion. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the delivery step includes providing the therapeutic agent to the intra-bronchial device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , including the further step of terminating the inhibition of movement. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic agent is one of antimicrobial agents such as adrenergic agents, antibiotic agents or antibacterial agents, antiviral agents anthelmintic agents, anti-inflammatory agents, antineoplastic agents, antioxidant agents, biological reaction inhibitors, botulinum toxin agents, chemotherapy agents, diagnostic agents, gene therapy, agents, hormonal agents, mucolytic agents, radioprotective agents, radioactive agents including brachytherapy materials, tissue growth inhibitors, tissue growth enhancers, and vasoactive agents. 
     
     
         11 . An intra-bronchial device for providing a therapeutic agent to a patient, the device comprising:
 means for delivering a therapeutic agent into an air passageway of the patient; and   means for intra-bronchially inhibiting movement of the therapeutic agent from the air passageway.   
     
     
         12 . The intra-bronchial device of  claim 11 , wherein the movement is inhibited by limiting exhalation from the air passageway. 
     
     
         13 . The intra-bronchial device of  claim 11 , wherein the movement is inhibited by limiting inhalation into the air passageway. 
     
     
         14 . The intra-bronchial device of  claim 11 , wherein the movement is inhibited by limiting movement of mucus from the air passageway.