Methods and Devices for Controlling the Size of Emphysematous Bullae

Abstract

An implantable device for control over the size of emphysematous bullae in a lung, including: an elongated central region having a fixed axial length; a first end including a first anchor; and a second end including a second anchor.

1 . An implantable device for control over the size of emphysematous bullae in a lung, comprising:
 i. an elongated central region having a fixed axial length;   ii. a first end including a first anchor;   iii. a second end including a second anchor.   
     
     
         2 . The implantable device of  claim 1 , wherein said central region is generally cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         3 . The implantable device of  claim 1 , wherein said central region is substantially straight along a central axis. 
     
     
         4 . The implantable device of  claim 1 , wherein said first anchor comprises a self-curling anchor region such that in the absence of force, the first anchor region is curled to a degree of curvature from about 30 degrees to about 180 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The implantable device of  claim 1 , wherein said second anchor comprises a self-curling anchor region such that in the absence of force, the second anchor region is curled to a degree of curvature from about 30 degrees to about 180 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The implantable device of  claim 1 , wherein said first anchor comprises a hinged arm extending in a direction substantially towards said second end. 
     
     
         7 . The implantable device of  claim 1 , wherein said second anchor comprises a hinged arm extending in a direction substantially towards said first end. 
     
     
         8 . The implantable device of  claim 1 , wherein the ends of said first and/or second anchors are non-piercing. 
     
     
         9 . The implantable device of  claim 1 , wherein the ends of said first and/or second anchors comprise a hook, a ring, a ball, an ellipsoid, a disk, or a tab. 
     
     
         10 . The implantable device of  claim 1 , wherein said first anchor comprises more than one anchor region. 
     
     
         11 . The implantable device of  claim 1 , wherein said second anchor comprises more than one anchor region. 
     
     
         12 . An assembly comprising the implantable device of  claim 1  and a deployment device. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said deployment device comprises a catheter. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said catheter comprises a positioning member to position said implantable device. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said catheter comprises a connector device to releasably engage with the implantable device. 
     
     
         16 . A method of delivering the implantable device of  claim 1 , comprising the steps of aligning said first anchor to a target site while said implantable device is at least partially placed within a deployment device, deploying said first anchor such that it engages a first region of the lung, pulling said first anchor in a proximal direction towards the second anchor, and releasing said second anchor such that it engages a second region of the lung. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of obtaining an image of a diseased area of a target site. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said target site is a region of a lung. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said step of releasing said second anchor comprises separating an engagement member on said implantable device from an attachment on said deployment device. 
     
     
         20 . A method of delivering an implantable device into a diseased region of a lung, comprising the steps of:
 i. Guiding a delivery device to a target site within said lung, wherein said target site is an emphysematous bullae in a lung, and wherein said delivery device contains an implantable device compressed within a distal end of said delivery device, said implantable device comprising:
 (a) an elongated central region having a fixed axial length; 
 (b) a distal end including a distal expandable anchor; and 
 (c) a proximal end including a proximal expandable anchor; 
   ii. releasing said distal end of said implantable device from said delivery device, thereby expanding said distal expandable anchor within said target site;   iii. pulling said implantable device proximally, wherein said pulling causes the distal expandable anchor to pull tissue at said target site proximally;   iv. releasing said proximal end of said implantable device from said delivery device, thereby expanding said proximal anchor within said target site;   v. releasing said implantable device from said delivery device.