Patent ID: 8361484

Claim:
A method for reducing lung volume in a patient, comprising the steps of: advancing into a region of a patient's lung via said patient's trachea a multi-lumen catheter lumen through a bronchoscope; and co-administering, through the multi-lumen catheter, a first mixture comprising a first amount of a polymer containing a plurality of pendent hydroxyl groups; a second mixture comprising a second amount of a crosslinker; and a third mixture comprising a third amount of a sclerosing agent; thereby forming a hydrogel in said region, wherein said crosslinker is derived from compounds selected from the group consisting of boric acid, sodium borate, potassium borate, alkyl boronic acids, alkyl boronates, alkyl boroxine, alkenyl boronic acids, alkenyl boronates, alkenyl boroxine, aryl boronic acids, aryl boronates, aryl boroxine, heteroaryl boronic acids, heteroaryl boronates, heteroaryl boroxine, aralkyl boronic acid, aralkyl boronates, aralkyl boroxine, heteroaralkyl boronic acids, heteroaralkyl boronates and heteroaralkyl boroxine; and said polymer is polyvinyl alcohol or a copolymer of vinyl alcohol and a second monomer.