Method and apparatus for endobronchial diagnosis

Abstract

The present invention provides systems, methods, devices and kits for assessing the level of pulmonary disease in individual lung compartments. A lung compartment comprises a subportion of a lung, such as a lobe, a segment or a subsegment, for example. By measuring individual lung compartments, the level of disease of the pulmonary system may be more precisely defined by determining values of disease parameters reflective of individual subportions or compartments of a lung. Likewise, compartments may be separately imaged to provide further measurement information. Once individual compartments are characterized, they may be compared and ranked based on a number of variables reflecting, for example, level of disease or need for treatment. Such comparison may be aided by simultaneous display of such variables or images on a visual display. Further, the same tests may be performed on the lung as a whole or on both lungs and to determine the affect of the diseased lung compartments on the overall lung performance. In addition, the diseased lung compartments may be temporarily isolated and the measurement tests performed to determine the affect of the isolation on overall lung performance. As a result, the most beneficial treatment options may be selected.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pulmonary diagnostic system comprising:
 a multi-lumen pulmonary catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end comprises an inflatable occlusion balloon configured to isolate a lung compartment from a remainder of the lung; and   a pulmonary diagnostic device connected to the proximal end of the pulmonary catheter comprising:
 one or more sensors configured to generate measurement data reflecting respiratory features of the isolated lung compartment, wherein the respiratory features of the isolated lung compartment comprise pressure and flow; 
 an analyzing component configured analyze the measurement data to generate processed measurement data, wherein analyzing the measurement data comprises calculating a resistance value of the isolated lung compartment based on the measurement data reflecting pressure and flow; and 
 a data receiving component configured to receive the processed measurement data, wherein the data receiving component comprises a display which is configured to display resistance values in visual form; 
   wherein the system is configured to determine pressure and flow of the isolated lung compartment during unassisted breathing.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pulmonary diagnostic device further comprises a transferring component configured to transfer fluids or gases to or from the lung. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the transferring component comprises a source of the fluid or gas and a means for generating flow of the fluid or gas. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the gas comprises air, oxygen, carbon dioxide, noble gas, radiopaque gas, polarized gas or a mixture of any of these. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to rank multiple lung compartments based on a level of disease or a need for treatment. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the respiratory feature further comprises velocity, oxygen concentration, or noble gas concentration. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pulmonary diagnostic device converts the measurement data into a computer readable format. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter is sized and has sufficient torque response and pushability to permit endotracheal introduction and intraluminal advancement through the lung bronchus. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one lumen of the multi-lumen catheter is in fluid communication with the inflatable occlusion balloon. 
     
     
         10 . The pulmonary diagnostic system of  claim 1  further comprising: an introducing element selected from the group consisting of a primary tracheal tube, a bronchoscope, a visualizing endotracheal tube and a guidewire, said introducing element being configured to introduce the catheter to a lung. 
     
     
         11 . The pulmonary diagnostic system of  claim 1 , wherein the analyzing component is configured to calculate the resistance value of the isolated lung compartment based on pressure divided by volumetric flow rate. 
     
     
         12 . The pulmonary diagnostic system of  claim 11 , wherein the analyzing component is configured to calculate volume data based on the measurement data reflecting flow. 
     
     
         13 . A pulmonary diagnostic system comprising:
 a multi-lumen pulmonary catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end comprises an inflatable occlusion balloon configured to isolate a lung compartment from a remainder of the lung;   a pulmonary diagnostic device connected to the proximal end of the pulmonary catheter comprising:
 one or more sensors configured to generate measurement data reflecting respiratory features of the isolated lung compartment, wherein the respiratory features of the isolated lung compartment comprise pressure and flow; and 
 an analyzing component configured analyze the measurement data to generate processed measurement data, wherein analyzing the measurement data comprises calculating a resistance value of the isolated lung compartment based on the measurement data reflecting pressure and flow; and 
   a data receiving component configured to receive the processed measurement data, wherein the data receiving component comprises a display which is configured to display resistance values in visual form;   wherein the system is configured to determine pressure and flow of the isolated lung compartment during unassisted breathing.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the pulmonary diagnostic device further comprises a transferring component configured to transfer fluids or gases to or from the lung. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the system is configured to rank multiple lung compartments based on a level of disease or a need for treatment. 
     
     
         16 . A pulmonary diagnostic system comprising:
 a multi-lumen pulmonary catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end comprises an inflatable occlusion balloon configured to isolate a lung compartment from a remainder of the lung;   a pulmonary diagnostic device connected to the proximal end of the pulmonary catheter comprising:
 one or more sensors configured to generate measurement data reflecting one or more respiratory features of the isolated lung compartment, wherein the respiratory features of the isolated lung compartment comprise flow; 
 an analyzing component configured analyze the measurement data to generate processed measurement data; and 
 a data receiving component configured to receive the processed measurement data, wherein the data receiving component comprises a display which is configured to processed measurement data in visual form. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the pulmonary diagnostic device further comprises a transferring component configured to transfer fluids or gases to or from the lung. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the system is configured to rank multiple lung compartments based on a level of disease or a need for treatment.