Patent ID: 6941950

Claim:
A flow control device for a bronchial passageway, comprising: a valve member that regulates fluid flow through the flow control device; a seal member that at least partially surrounds the valve member, wherein the seal member extends radially outward and forms a seal with the interior wall of the bronchial passageway when the flow control device is implanted in the bronchial passageway; an anchor member secured to the seal member, wherein the anchor member exerts a radial force against the interior wall of the bronchial passageway when the flow control device is implanted in the bronchial passageway and retains the flow control device in a fixed location in the bronchial passageway; and a valve protector that at least partially surrounds the valve member, the valve protector having sufficient rigidity to maintain the shape of the valve member against compression; wherein the seal member includes a first flange that at least partially surrounds an outer perimeter of the flow control device and that extends radially outward a first distance with respect to a longitudinal axis of the flow control device.