Methods for easing pain and anxiety from atrial or ventricular defibrillation

• US 20050028816A1
• Filed: 07/31/2003
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AGA AB (Linde Plc)
• Original Assignee: AGA Linde Healthcare
• Inventors: Ujhelyi, Michael R., Fishman, Royce S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,337,776 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/200.240
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/10 Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/104 specially adapted for anaesthetics A61M16/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/12 by mixing different gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0072 with application of electrical currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0225 Carbon oxides, e.g. Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0233 Carbon monoxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/025 Helium
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0291 Xenon
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6081 Colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8225 using incorporated gas cartridges for the driving gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance

Abstract

Methods for easing a patient'"'"'s pain and anxiety from atrial or ventricular defibrillation are disclosed. The methods include causing the patient to inhale a medical gas prior to activation of a atrial defibrillation device or subsequent to activation of a ventricular defibrillation device. In the former case, the inhalation produces analgesia, anxiolysis or anterograde amnesia prior to, during and after the atrial defibrillation. In the latter case, the inhalation produces analgesia, anxiolysis or anterograde amnesia.

Claims

1. A method of easing a patient'"'"'s pain and anxiety from atrial defibrillation comprising causing said patient to inhale an effective amount of a medical gas and activating an atrial defibrillation device while said patient is under the influence of said medical gas, whereby said inhalation of said medical gas produces in said patient at least one effect selected from the group consisting of analgesia, anxiolysis, and anterograde amnesia immediately prior to, during and immediately after said activating of said atrial defibrillation device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said medical gas comprises a gas selected from the group consisting of N_O/O2/He, N_O/O2, N_O/O2/N₂, Xe/O₂, Xe/O₂/N₂, and Xe/O₂/He.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said medical gas comprising N_O/O2 comprises from about 35% to 70% of said N₂O.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said medical gas comprising N_O/O2 comprises from about 55% to 65% of said N₂O and from about 35% to 45% of said O₂.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said atrial defibrillation device comprises an atrial fibrillation implantable cardioverter defibrillator, and wherein said medical gas is administered immediately prior to said patient'"'"'s activating of said atrial fibrillation implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said medical gas is administered within a period of less than about 4 minutes prior to said activating of said atrial defibrillation device.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said medical gas is administered within a period of less than about 2 to 3 minutes prior to said activation of said atrial defibrillation device.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said medical gas comprises N_O/O2 and wherein said N₂O is present in an amount between 55% and 70% thereof.

9. A method of easing a patient'"'"'s pain and anxiety from ventricular defibrillation comprising activating a ventricular defibrillation device and subsequently causing said patient to inhale an effective amount of a medical gas, whereby said inhalation of said medical gas produces in said patient at least one effect selected from the group consisting of analgesia, anxiolysis, and anterograde amnesia.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said medical gas comprises a gas selected from the group consisting of N_O/O2/He, N_O/O2, N_O/O2/N₂, Xe/O₂, Xe/O₂/N₂, and Xe/O₂/He.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said medical gas comprising N_O/O2 comprises from about 35% to 70% of said N₂O.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said medical gas comprising N_O/O2 comprises from about 55% to 65% of N₂O and from about 35% to 45% of said O₂.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein said ventricular defibrillation device is selected from the group consisting of a ventricular fibrillation implantable cardioverter defibrillator and an automatic external cardioverter defibrillator, and wherein said medical gas is administered subsequent to said activating of said vertricular defibrillation device.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein said medical gas is administered within a period of about 4 minutes subsequent to said activating of said ventricular defibrillation device.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said medical gas is administered within a period of about 2 to 3 minutes subsequent to said activating of said ventricular defibrillation device.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein said medical gas comprises N_O/O2 and wherein said N₂O is present in an amount of between 55% and 70% thereof.