Apparatus and methods for reducing lung volume

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US007128747B2

United States Patent

Ginn

(io) Patent No.: (45) Date of Patent:

US 7,128,747 B2 Oct. 31, 2006

Apparatus and methods are provided for reducing the volume of a lung using a clip including a plurality of tines. The clip is advanced along an interior of a bronchial passage to a predetermined location with the tines in a contracted condition. The tines are expanded outwardly to engage surrounding tissue, and then collapsed towards the contracted condition, thereby drawing the surrounding tissue inwardly to substantially close the bronchial passage from air flow therethrough. Optionally, electrical energy may be applied to the surrounding tissue after collapsing the tines to the contracted condition, thereby fusing the surrounding tissue together. The clip is then released within or removed from the passage.

7 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets

334 332

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* cited by examiner