Patent ID: 8506577
Filing Date: 2013-08-13
Classification: A61B,A61K,A61M

Abstract:
1. A pneumostomy technique used to create a pneumostoma through a chest wall, parietal membrane and visceral membrane into a lung of a patient, wherein: the pneumostomy technique comprises a first procedure, an interval and a second procedure; the first procedure comprises, (1a) accessing the parietal membrane by making an incision in the chest wall and exposing a localized region of the parietal membrane without puncturing the parietal membrane; and (1b) treating the localized region of said parietal membrane to induce a pleurodesis without puncturing the parietal membrane; the interval comprises a waiting period between the first procedure and the second procedure in order to allow the pleurodesis to form; and the second procedure comprises, (2a) identifying the position of the localized region, (2b) verifying that a pleurodesis has been formed between the parietal and visceral membranes within the localized region, (2c) making an incision through parietal and visceral membranes within the localized region and pleurodesis, (2d) inserting a distal end of a pneumostomy catheter through the incision into the lung such the distal end of the pneumostomy catheter is embedded within parenchymal tissue of the lung, (2e) expanding an expandable device at the distal end of the pneumostomy catheter to displace parenchymal tissue surrounding the distal end of the pneumostomy catheter for creating a cavity in the parenchymal tissue and securing the pneumostomy catheter within the lung, (2f) applying tension to the pneumostomy catheter to draw the lung towards the incision; (2g) after the lung is drawn toward the incision, securing the pneumostomy catheter to the chest wall of the patient thereby stabilizing the incision during healing of the pneumostoma; (2h) leaving the distal end of the pneumostomy catheter embedded in the parenchymal tissue to create the pneumostoma; (2i) collapsing the expandable device at the distal end of the pneumostomy catheter; (2j) removing the pneumostomy catheter from the patient after formation of the pneumostoma, wherein the pneumostoma includes an artificial channel connecting the cavity in the parenchymal tissue created by the pneumostomy catheter to the air external to the patient's body; and (2k) inserting a pneumostoma management device into the pneumostoma to protect the pneumostoma and maintain patency of the pneumostoma, wherein the pneumostoma management device has a different structure than the pneumostomy catheter.