Endobronchial valve

The endobronchial valve is a medical device researched and developed in Russia, used in treatment of tuberculosis and its complications. It is a one-way valve designerd to be installed in a bronchus. It causes hypoventilation of the affected segment of a lung and preserves the drainage function of the blocked bronchus and the tissue-destruction cavity. The valve lets air and sputum and other bronchial secretion go out of the lung during abrupt expiration and coughing, but lets nothing back in during inspiration.

The endobronchial valve has these features:
 * minimally invasive – no surgical incision;
 * procedure of installation of the valve lasts about five minutes;
 * intended to reduce acute hyperinflation;
 * flexible – adapts to the variable size and shape of the airway;
 * ability to “stage” procedure and treat conservatively;
 * reversible – valves are designed to be removable post implantation;
 * increased ability to carry out daily activities;
 * improved exercise tolerance;
 * increased ventilation to healthier portions of the lung.

Phthisiologists have used one-way endobronchial valves since 1999 in treatment of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB), extensively drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB) and its complications. In the U.S. they have been used in the treatment of emphysema patients.