Devices, treatments and methods to restore tissue elastic recoil

Abstract

Pulmonary treatment devices, systems and methods of use are provided which take into account the vast tissue damage of advanced COPD sufferers and provide treatments designed specifically to treat the particularly compromised lung tissues that are present in these patients. These treatments reduce trapped air volume, tension lung tissue and enhance lung elastic recoil. A variety of embodiments are provided, including pulmonary treatment devices that move portions of lung tissue around a rotational axis into a torqued configuration, anchoring such tissue in place for improved breathing mechanics.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for treating a lung comprising:
 a tissue engaging end configured to engage loose damaged tissue; and   a stabilizing end configured to engage a lung passageway proximal to the loose damaged tissue so as to seat in the lung passageway   wherein a portion of the device is configured to deform so as to store energy,   wherein the device is configured to re-tension a portion of the lung by pulling the tissue engaging end proximally toward the stabilizing end in the lung passageway and at least partially maintaining such pulling by recoil force provided by deformation of the portion configured to deform.   
     
     
         2 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the portion configured to deform is configured to be elongated to store elastic recoil strain energy. 
     
     
         3 . A device as in  claim 2 , wherein the portion configured to deform has a potential longitudinal elongation in a range of 10-200 mm. 
     
     
         4 . A device as in  claim 3 , wherein the portion configured to deform has a length in a range of 5-75 mm in resting free space. 
     
     
         5 . A device as in  claim 2 , wherein the stored elastic recoil strain energy is configured to reduce a distance between an engaged first location of loose damaged tissue and a second location within the lung passageway to increase tension in locations in the lung that are not between the first location and the second location. 
     
     
         6 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the device has a potential longitudinal elongation of between 0.25 and 10 inches beyond its resting length. [this is for the device overall, not the midsection] 
     
     
         7 . A device as in  claim 6 , wherein the device has a potential longitudinal elongation of between 2-4 inches beyond its resting length. 
     
     
         8 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the tissue engaging end comprises a plurality of loops. 
     
     
         9 . A device as in  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of loops allows grabbing of loose damaged tissue and wherein pulling the tissue engaging end proximally binds the tissue and traps tissue between the loops to cause tissue traction. 
     
     
         10 . A device as in  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of loops are disposed in more than one plane. 
     
     
         11 . A device as in  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of loops comprise at least two loops disposed within the same plane. 
     
     
         12 . A device as in  claim 8 , wherein device comprises a longitudinal axis extending from the tissue engaging end to the stabilizing end, and wherein the plurality of loops comprise at least two loops extending radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis and curving back around toward the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         13 . A device as in  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the at least two loops forms an additional loop. 
     
     
         14 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the portion configured to deform comprises at least one loop. 
     
     
         15 . A device as in  claim 14 , wherein the at least one loop comprises a coiled midsection. 
     
     
         16 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the portion configured to deform comprises an extendible midsection. 
     
     
         17 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing end comprises at least one loop. 
     
     
         18 . A device as in  claim 19 , wherein the at least one loop includes at least one loop which curves at least partially around a longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal axis extends from the stabilizing end to the tissue engaging end. 
     
     
         19 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the device is formed from a single continuous shaft. 
     
     
         20 . A device as in  claim 19 , wherein the shaft is comprised of a shape-memory alloy. 
     
     
         21 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the tissue engaging end is configured to be deployed independently of the stabilizing end. 
     
     
         22 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the tissue gathering element has a shape configured to engage the loose damaged tissue by rotating the tissue gathering element around a rotational axis and wherein the tissue gathering element has a stiffness configured to move the loose damaged tissue around the rotational axis into a torqued configuration. 
     
     
         23 . A device as in  claim 22 , further comprising an attachment element configured to attach to a torqueing tool so as to rotate the tissue gathering element around the rotational axis. 
     
     
         24 . A device as in  claim 1 , further comprising an attachment element configured to couple with a delivery device so that the device is able to remain attached to the delivery device after the stabilizing end is deployed. 
     
     
         25 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the lung passageway includes a bifurcation and wherein device comprises a longitudinal axis extending from the tissue gathering end to the stabilizing end, wherein the stabilizing end comprises an anchoring element configured to bow outwardly away from the longitudinal axis so as to enter a portion of the bifurcation.