Patent ID: 9474533
Filing Date: 2016-10-25
CPC Classification: A61B,A61F

Claim Text:
1. An implant for treating a lung of a patient, the lung including an airway system having an airway, the implant comprising: an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end defining an axis therebetween; the elongate body having a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration, the elongate body in the delivery configuration having a lateral bearing surface in an unexpanded configuration about the elongate body, the axis of the elongate body in the delivery configuration being sufficiently straight for advancement distally into the airway system; the elongate body being deployable from the delivery configuration to the deployed configuration within the airway system such that the lateral bearing surface of the implant expands laterally from the axis of the elongate body to an expanded configuration to increase the lateral bearing surface, deployment of the elongate body within the airway effecting bending of the elongate body so that the lateral bearing surface bears laterally against a luminal surface of the airway from within the airway system sufficiently to bend the airway while the expanded lateral bearing surface of the implant inhibits penetration of the implant through the airway, and sufficient that local compression of lung tissue enhances tension in other lung tissue of the patient sufficiently to enhance lung function of the patient.