Richard W Lin

US Patent:

6416554, Jul 9, 2002

Filed:

Aug 24, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/379973

Inventors:

Clifton A. Alferness - Redmond WA
Richard Y. Lin - Redwood City CA
Wilfred E. Jaeger - Portola Valley CA

Assignee:

Spiration, Inc. - Redmond WA

International Classification:

A61F 236

US Classification:

623 2365, 600 37

Abstract:

An apparatus and method reduces the size of a lung. The apparatus includes a jacket of flexible fabric configured to cover at least a portion of the lung. A lace, carried by the jacket, collapses the jacket about the lung portion. The jacket may further include a drawstring circumscribing the jacket at the base for closing the open base of the jacket about the lung portion. The collapsing of the jacket may be employed for both reducing the size of the lung and maintaining the lung in a reduced size condition or the lung portion may be deflated prior to the placement of the jacket over the lung portion, in which case, the jacket serves to prevent re-expansion of the lung portion.

US Patent:

20020188171, Dec 12, 2002

Filed:

Jul 18, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/199776

Inventors:

Clifton Alferness - Redmond WA, US
Richard Lin - Redwood City CA, US
Wilfred Jaeger - Portola Valley CA, US

Assignee:

Spiration, Inc.

International Classification:

A61F002/04

US Classification:

600/037000, 623/023650

Abstract:

An apparatus and method reduces the size of a lung. The apparatus includes a jacket of flexible fabric configured to cover at least a portion of the lung. A lace, carried by the jacket, collapses the jacket about the lung portion. The jacket may further include a drawstring circumscribing the jacket at the base for closing the open base of the jacket about the lung portion. The collapsing of the jacket may be employed for both reducing the size of the lung and maintaining the lung in a reduced size condition or the lung portion may be deflated prior to the placement of the jacket over the lung portion, in which case, the jacket serves to prevent re-expansion of the lung portion.

US Patent:

20050033310, Feb 10, 2005

Filed:

May 17, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/848571

Inventors:

Clifton Alferness - Port Orchard WA, US
Richard Lin - Redwood City CA, US
Wilfred Jaeger - Portola Valley CA, US

International Classification:

A61F011/00

US Classification:

606108000

Abstract:

An air passageway obstruction device includes a frame structure and a flexible membrane overlying the frame structure. The frame structure is collapsible upon advancement of the device into the air passageway, expandable into a rigid structure upon deploying in the air passageway and re-collapsible upon removal from the air passageway. The flexible membrane obstructs inhaled air flow into a lung portion communicating with the air passageway. The device may be removed after deployment in an air passageway by re-collapsing the device and pulling the device proximally through a catheter.

US Patent:

62939513, Sep 25, 2001

Filed:

Aug 24, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/379972

Inventors:

Clifton A. Alferness - Redmond WA
Richard Y. Lin - Redwood City CA
Wilfred E. Jaeger - Portola Valley CA

Assignee:

Spiration, Inc. - Redmond WA

International Classification:

A61F 1100

US Classification:

606108

Abstract:

A device, system, and method provides for lung size reduction by permanently collapsing at least a portion of a lung. The lung portion may be collapsed by obstructing the air passageway which communicates the lung portion to be collapsed. The air passageway may be obstructed by an obstructing member which precludes airflow in either direction or with a one-way valve which permits air to be exhaled from the lung portion while precluding air from being inhaled into the lung portion. In addition, a vacuum may be pulled within the lung portion to be collapsed for collapsing the lung portion and while the lung portion is collapsed the obstructing member may be placed in the air passageway to maintain the lung portion in a permanently collapsed state.

US Patent:

62581007, Jul 10, 2001

Filed:

Oct 10, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/686204

Inventors:

Clifton A. Alferness - Redmond WA
Richard Y. Lin - Redwood City CA
Wilfred E. Jaeger - Portola Valley CA

Assignee:

Spiration, Inc. - Redmond WA

International Classification:

A61F 1100

US Classification:

606108

Abstract:

A device, system, and method provides for lung size reduction by permanently collapsing at least a portion of a lung. The lung portion may be collapsed by obstructing the air passageway which communicates the lung portion to be collapsed. The air passageway may be obstructed by an obstructing member which precludes airflow in either direction or with a one-way valve which permits air to be exhaled from the lung portion while precluding air from being inhaled into the lung portion. In addition, a vacuum may be pulled within the lung portion to be collapsed for collapsing the lung portion and while the lung portion is collapsed the obstructing member may be placed in the air passageway to maintain the lung portion in a permanently collapsed state.