Emphysema patient has good result from experimental one-way valve procedure

An experimental procedure using one-way valves to achieve lung volume reduction shows promise for an emphysema patient. Emphysema, a lung disease usually caused by smoking, damages air sacs in the lung. The sacs fill with air that the body is unable to exhale, causing the lungs to expand. This in turn flattens the diaphragm, the primary muscle used for breathing. The flattened diaphragm is unable to function properly, making it extremely difficult for the individual to breathe.