FDA Approves Treatment Device for Severe Emphysema

A new device intended to treat breathing difficulty associated with severe emphysema has been approved by the FDA. The device, Pulmonx’s Zephyr Endobronchial Valve (Zephyr Valve) is a less invasive treatment than options currently available to patients.

“Treatment options are limited for people with emphysema who have severe symptoms that have not improved from taking medicines. These have included lung surgery, such as lung volume reduction or lung transplants, which may not be suitable or appropriate for all patients,” said Tina Kiang, PhD, acting director, Division of Anesthesiology, General Hospital, Respiratory, Infection Control and Dental Devices, in the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, in a statement.

The CDC estimates that 3.5 million American adults have been diagnosed with emphysema, according to the FDA. Emphysema, including severe emphysema, is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to irreversible damage to the air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs.

Using a flexible bronchoscope about the size of a pencil eraser, a doctor places Zephyr Valves into the diseased areas of the lung airways during a procedure in a hospital setting. The device’s design is intended to prevent air from entering the damaged parts of the lung, while also allowing trapped air and fluids to escape.

For the full article, visit ContemporaryClinic.com.