Zephyr Endobronchial Valve treatment, recently approved by the US FDA through the ‘Breakthrough Devices’ status, offers a landmark advancement in the procedure to treat severe COPD/emphysema. It is the first minimally invasive procedure to help emphysema sufferers breathe easier without major surgery. The procedure, done through a simple bronchoscopy, places four tiny valves into the airways and blocks off the lungs’ diseased parts where the air gets trapped. Over a dozen patients, who have already undergone the procedure at the UH Cleveland Medical Center in the US, say that they experienced immediate relief. Patients suffering from COPD–the second highest cause of death in India after heart disease, have severe breathing problems that can cause normal activities.