Devices for obstructing passage of air or other contaminants into a portion of a lung and methods of use

1. A device for selectively controlling air flow in a patient, the device comprising:

a member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween;

an inner member disposed about a portion of the lumen, wherein the inner member is configured to transition between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein, in the first configuration, the portion of the lumen including the inner member defines a first diameter, and, in the second configuration, the portion of the lumen including the inner member defines a second diameter smaller than the first diameter;

an actuation member for transitioning the inner member between the first configuration and the second configuration; and

a controller configured to send an output to the actuation member, the controller being configured to:

increase a rate at which the inner member transitions between the first configuration and the second configuration when a frequency of inhalation and exhalation of a lung of the patient increases; and

decrease the rate at which the inner member transitions between the first configuration and the second configuration when the frequency of inhalation and exhalation in the lung decreases.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the member comprises a wire frame having a plurality of interconnected wires, and the wire frame comprises an outer cover disposed about a portion of the wire frame.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the actuation member is configured to transition the inner member from the first configuration to the second configuration in response to a magnetic force.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the actuation member includes an electro-active polymer disposed on the inner member, and the electro-active polymer is connected to an electrical power source.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the actuation member is configured to transition the inner member from the first configuration to the second configuration in response to a stimulus, and the inner member is biased in one of the first or second configurations.

6. The device of claim 1 , further including a breathing sensor operatively coupled to the controller, the breathing sensor including an electrically conductive element, wherein the breathing sensor is configured to detect the frequency of inhalation and exhalation of the lung.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the breathing sensor is configured to detect the frequency of inhalation and exhalation of the lung while coupled to a thorax.

8. A system for controlling air flow in parts of a lung, the system comprising:

a plurality of valve devices; and

a controller coupled to the plurality of valve devices configured to control energy supplied to the plurality of valve devices,

wherein each of the plurality of valve devices comprises:

an elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween,

an inner member disposed about a portion of the lumen, wherein the inner member is configured to transition between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein, in the first configuration, the portion of the lumen including the inner member defines a first diameter, and, in the second configuration, the portion of the lumen including the inner member defines a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, and

an actuation member for transitioning the inner member between the first configuration and the second configuration, wherein the actuation member is disposed on a portion of the inner member, wherein the controller is configured to transition each of the plurality of valve devices between the first configuration and the second configuration based on a detected breathing cycle of the lung, wherein the plurality of valve devices includes a first valve device configured to be placed in a first airway of the lung, and a second valve device configured to be placed in a second airway of the lung that is different than the first airway of the lung, and wherein, over a period of one day, the controller is configured to maintain the first valve device in the first configuration for a higher percentage of time than the second valve device is maintained in the first configuration based on respective locations of the first airway and the second airway in the lung, and based on an ability of the lung to expand in portions adjacent to the first airway and the second airway.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the elongate member comprises a wire frame.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the actuation member includes a plurality of magnets.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the wire frame comprises an outer cover disposed about a portion of the wire frame.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the actuation member includes an electro-active member disposed on the inner member, and the electro-active member is deposited in one or more vertical stripes.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the actuation member is configured to transition the inner member from the first configuration to the second configuration, and the inner member is biased in one of the first or second configurations.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to transition each of the plurality of valve devices between the first configuration and the second configuration by changing a frequency of the energy supplied to the plurality of valve devices.

15. The system of claim 8 , further including a breathing sensor operatively coupled to the controller, the breathing sensor including an electrically conductive element, wherein the breathing sensor is configured to detect the breathing cycle of the lung while coupled to a thorax of a patient.

16. The system of claim 15 , further including a wireless output operatively coupled to the breathing sensor, and a wireless receiver operatively coupled to the controller, wherein the wireless output is configured to send a wireless signal indicative of the detected breathing cycle to the wireless receiver.

17. The system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to increase a rate at which at least one of the plurality of valve devices transitions between the first configuration and the second configuration when a rate of inhalation and exhalation increases in the lung.

18. A system for controlling air flow in a lung, the system comprising:

a first valve device configured to be placed in a first airway of the lung, and a second valve device configured to be placed in a second airway of the lung that is different than the first airway of the lung;

an energy supply including an inductive coil configured to deliver energy to each of the first valve device and the second valve device;

a controller coupled to the first valve device and the second valve device, the controller being configured to control the energy delivered to the first valve device and the second valve device by the energy supply;

a wireless receiver operatively coupled to the controller;

a breathing sensor including an electrically conductive element, wherein the breathing sensor is configured to detect the breathing cycle of a patient while coupled to a thorax of the patient; and

a wireless output operatively coupled to the breathing sensor, wherein the wireless output is configured to send a wireless signal indicative of the detected breathing cycle to the wireless receiver;

wherein the first valve device and the second valve device each includes:

a member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween,

an inner member disposed about a portion of the lumen, wherein the inner member is configured to transition between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein, in the first configuration, the portion of the lumen including the inner member defines a first diameter, and in the second configuration, the portion of the lumen including the inner member defines a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, and

an actuation member for transitioning the inner member between the first configuration and the second configuration, wherein the actuation member is disposed on a portion of the inner member, wherein the controller is configured to transition each of the first valve device and the second valve device between the first configuration and the second configuration based on the detected breathing cycle by changing a frequency of the energy delivered from the energy supply to the first valve device and the second valve device.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein, over a period of one day, the controller is configured to maintain the first valve device in the first configuration for a higher percentage of time than the second valve device is maintained in the first configuration based on respective locations of the first airway and the second airway in the lung, and based on an ability of the lung to expand in portions adjacent to the first airway and the second airway, and the controller is configured to increase a rate at which at least one of the first valve device and the second valve device transitions between the first configuration and the second configuration when a rate of inhalation and exhalation increases in the lung.