IBV® Valve System
A Minimally Invasive Treatment for Patients with Emphysema
Emphysema is a common, debilitating lung disease in which the tiny air sacs that make up the lungs (alveoli) are enlarged or destroyed. This impairs the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide with the blood, reduces the lungs’ ability to exhale air, and is accompanied by coughing and breathing difficulties, initially with exertion and eventually also while at rest. Currently available treatments for emphysema are generally palliative and include medications, home oxygen therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation, lung volume reduction surgery and lung transplantation.
For the treatment of emphysema, the IBV Valve System is designed to redirect airflow from diseased portions of the lung to healthier areas. During a minimally invasive procedure, a catheter is passed through a bronchoscope (a flexible tube passed into the bronchial tubes through the nose or mouth) to deploy the small umbrella-shaped valves into the airways of the most diseased upper lobes of the lungs. Although the valves are intended to be permanent, they are designed to be removed via a minimally invasive procedure if necessary.
To view an animation of the IBV Valve System, click here.
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