Patent ID: 6550475
Filing Date: 2003-04-22
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A method of selective bronchial occlusion for lung ventilation of a patient wherein a first one of the patient's lungs is completely occluded and the second one of the patient's lungs remains in operable communication with an external ventilation device, said method comprising the steps of:inserting an elongate, flexible bronchial/tracheal tube into the bronchus of the first lung, the tube having: a central lumen extending throughout the tube's entire length with an opening at each of opposed distal and proximal ends of the tube, the opening at the proximal end of the tube being adapted for connection to the external ventilation device, separate spaced apart distal and proximal peripherally inflatable portions at the distal end of the tube and at respective proximal locations relative to the distal end, a portion of the tube extending between the distal and proximal inflatable portions thereof having a sidewall, wherein the distal inflatable portion is inflatable both radially outwardly and radially inwardly to seal against itself, and wherein the proximal inflatable portion is inflatable radially outwardly, and a proximal air vent opening in the sidewall; positioning the tube in the bronchus such that the distal inflatable portion is in the bronchus of the first lung, the tube being sized such that when the distal inflatable portion is positioned in the bronchus of the first lung, the proximal inflatable portion is positioned in the trachea of the patient above the bronchus of the second lung; inflating the distal inflatable portion both radially outwardly to seal against the surrounding bronchus of the first lung and radially inwardly to seal against itself to occlude the lumen of the tube and thereby effectively occlude the first lung; and inflating the proximal inflatable portion radially outwardly to seal against the surrounding trachea of the patient, whereby an airway from the ventilation device to the patient's second lung is maintained via the proximal air vent opening.