Disclosed herein are devices for altering gaseous flow within a lung to
improve the expiration cycle of an individual, particularly individuals having
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). More particularly, devices are disclosed
to produce collateral openings or channels through the airway wall so that expired
air is able to pass directly out of the lung tissue to facilitate both the exchange
of oxygen ultimately into the blood and/or to decompress hyper-inflated lungs.