Patent ID: 8104474

Claim:
A ventilation bypass system comprising: a conduit having a distal end configured to pass into a lung of a patient through an opening in a chest wall, wherein the opening in the chest wall passes from outside the patient through skin of the chest, muscle, parietal pleura and visceral pleura into the lung; a retention plate projecting from the conduit between a proximal end and the distal end, the retention plate configured to remain external to the patient and limit insertion of the conduit into the lung through the opening in the chest wall; and a flow-control device connected to the proximal end of the conduit; a fixation device operatively associated with the distal end of the conduit and adapted to engage the lung to substantially prevent unnecessary movement of the conduit; wherein the fixation device comprises a hinged structure which has a first configuration adapted to permit the distal end of the conduit to pass into the lung of a patient through the opening in the chest wall and a second configuration adapted to prevent removal of the distal end of the conduit from the lung; and wherein the ventilation bypass system is configured to allow air to escape from the lung through the opening in the chest wall.