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Malka, Ronit

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Malka

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Malka, Ronit

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    Pop-Up MEMS One-Way Endobronchial Valve for Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
    (2015-07-10) Malka, Ronit
    Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity in aging populations worldwide. In very severe cases of COPD arising from heterogenous emphysema, portions of diseased lung are unable to expel air normally and over time hyperinflate, restricting the function of healthier portions of the lung, the diaphragm, and even the heart. Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) has shown promising results in alleviating symptoms of lung hyperinflation, but is associated with unacceptably high morbidity and mortality rates. Because of this, non-surgical methods of reducing the volume of hyperinflated lungs are the focus of much investigation, especially Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction (BLVR), consisting of one-way valves inserted bronchoscopically that slowly drain the diseased lobe of it's accumulated air. This thesis presents a novel redesign of current BLVR devices, notably by using pop-up microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) manufacture to create microscale check valves. These operate more reliably than current polymer valves and allow tuneable airflow to accommodate widely varying patient physiologies. Testing of individual modules and a full prototype of the redesigned valve suggest this valve would be a more reliable, tunable mechanism for BLVR.