Zephyr endobronchial valve system
Pulmonx
Pulmonx’s Zephyr endobronchial valve system is an implantable devused to reduce the lungs’ over-inflationungs due to severe emphysema in adults.
Redwood City, Calif.-based Pulmonx designed the device to decrease the volume of the crest to improve function in the heart, respiratory muscles and healthy lung tissue.
Zephyr is inserted through bronchoscopy, and the pencil-eraser-sized valves prevent air from entering the diseased alveoli but allow it to escape during exhalation.
Pulmonx won FDA premarket approval for the device in June 2018 and was named a nominee for Prix Galien’s best medical technology awards in 2020.