Apparatus and method for deployment of a bronchial obstruction device

Abstract

An apparatus and method deploy a self-expandable bronchial obstruction device in an air passageway. The apparatus includes a catheter configured to be passed down the trachea. The apparatus further includes a capsule for housing the self-expandable bronchial obstruction device in a sterile environment. The capsule is configured to be advanced down the catheter. The capsule further includes a tubular extension. The capsule has a breakable seam so as to release the bronchial obstruction device in the air passageway upon a proximal force being exerted upon the bronchial obstruction device. The method includes guiding a conduit down a trachea into the air passageway. The method further includes advancing a capsule having a bronchial device therein down an internal lumen of the conduit into the air passageway. The method further includes releasing the bronchial device from the capsule. The method further includes deploying the bronchial device into the air passageway.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for deploying a bronchial device in an air passageway, the apparatus comprising:
 a conduit configured to be passed down a trachea, the conduit comprising an internal lumen,   an axially-movable push rod within the internal lumen,   a housing that defines a sealed capsule that is moveable relative to the conduit, the sealed capsule substantially sealingly enclosing and separating the bronchial device from an environment external to the capsule, the bronchial device positioned within the housing, and   the housing being further arranged to be advanced down the internal lumen of the conduit placed into the air passageway and, upon an application of a proximal force by the axially-movable push rod upon the housing, to release the bronchial device for deployment in the air passageway such that the bronchial device is not in physical contact with the housing or the conduit once deployed.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the housing further comprises an openable feature through which the bronchial device is released. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the openable feature is opened by being broken. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the housing comprises a break-away portion through which the axially-movable push rod extends to contact the bronchial device. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the sealed capsule comprises an openable feature at one end and a break-away feature at a second end. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the push rod can break through the break-away feature to urge the bronchial device through the openable feature. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the push rod extends within a lumen defined within a tubular extension attached to the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the housing is further arranged to protect the environment external to the housing from the bronchial device. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the housing includes a flexible material for collapsing within an internal lumen of a deployment conduit. 
     
     
         11 . A system for deploying a bronchial device in an air passageway, the system comprising:
 a conduit configured to be passed down a trachea, into a bronchus communicating with the trachea and into the air passageway communicating with a lung portion, the conduit comprising an internal lumen;   an axially-movable pusher within the internal lumen;   a housing arranged to encapsulate and separate the bronchial device from an environment external to the housing, the bronchial device positioned within the housing, the housing being further arranged to be advanced down an internal lumen of the conduit placed into the air passageway and to release the bronchial device, upon the application of a proximal force by the axially-movable pusher, for deployment in the air passageway such that the bronchial device is not in physical contact with the housing or the conduit once deployed; and   the housing comprising a proximally extending tubular extension that is separated from the bronchial device by a wall.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the housing further comprises an openable end through which the bronchial device is released. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the wall is breakable to place an inside of the housing into communication with a lumen defined by the tubular extension. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the housing comprises a break-away portion arranged upon breakage to release the bronchial device.