Patent ID: 8157823

Claim:
A method for treating a lung of a patient, the lung including an airway system having a first airway elongate axial region with an associated first local airway central axis, and a second airway elongate axial region with an associated second local airway central axis, the method comprising: introducing an elongate body of an implant system axially into the airway system so that a proximal portion of the elongate body is disposed within the first axial airway region and so that a distal implant portion of the elongate body is disposed within the second axial airway region; compressing a lung tissue volume disposed at least in part between the airway axial regions by bending the elongate body between the proximal and distal portions so as to urge the first local airway axis of the first airway axial region laterally toward the second airway axial region while the proximal and distal portions of the elongate body extend axially within the first and second airway axial regions, respectively.