How the Valve Works
Unlike the more invasive lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) and lung transplant, this new treatment is a one-time procedure done during a bronchoscopy that requires no cutting or incisions and is completed in under one hour. On average four tiny valves are placed in the airways to block off diseased parts of the lungs. This reduces air trapping in the damaged areas of the lung, allows the healthier parts of the lungs to expand and lifts pressure off the diaphragm. This results in patients being less short of breath and having an easier time breathing. Zephyr Valves are fully removable, if necessary, but are intended to be permanent.
In clinical studies, patients treated with Zephyr Valves have been shown to breathe easier, be more active and energetic, be less short of breath, and enjoy a significantly improved quality of life compared to untreated patients.