Treatment of decompression sickness with inhaled nitric oxide gas
First Claim
1. A method for treating an individual with decompression sickness, the method comprising:
- administering a gas mixture to lungs of the individual, the gas mixture comprising oxygen and a therapeutically effective amount of nitric oxide gas.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention includes a method for treating an individual suffering from decompression sickness, a gas mixture that can be used to treat the individual, and an apparatus that can be used to administer the gas mixture. The method includes administering a gas mixture of oxygen and a therapeutically effective amount of nitric oxide gas to the individual. The gas mixture can include a mixture of oxygen, helium and, nitric oxide gases. The gas mixture can be administered using an apparatus that can be worn by the individual. The apparatus includes dispensers for gases, a gas blender to mix the gases, an inspiratory passage, a face mask substantially conformable with the individual'"'"'s face, and an expiratory passage. When the individual wearing the face mask inhales, the gas mixture travels from the gas blender, through the inspiratory passage to the face mask. The gas mixture is then inhaled by the individual. When the individual exhales a breath, the breath travels from the face mask through the expiratory passage.
21 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for treating an individual with decompression sickness, the method comprising:
administering a gas mixture to lungs of the individual, the gas mixture comprising oxygen and a therapeutically effective amount of nitric oxide gas. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- 9. A method for preventing decompression sickness, the method comprising administering a gas mixture to at least one lung of a person, the gas mixture comprising oxygen and a therapeutically effective amount of nitric oxide gas.
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12. A therapeutic gas mixture comprising:
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oxygen, helium, and a therapeutically effective amount of gaseous nitric oxide, wherein the nitric oxide, oxygen, and helium are mixed to create the therapeutic gas mixture. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A device for administering a gas mixture to an individual, the device comprising:
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at least one dispenser of oxygen gas;
at least one dispenser of helium gas;
at least one dispenser of nitric oxide gas;
a gas blender to mix the oxygen gas, the helium gas and the nitric oxide gas into a gas mixture;
an inspiratory passage;
a face mask substantially conformable with the individual'"'"'s face; and
an expiratory passage;
wherein when the individual places the device on the individual'"'"'s face and inhales, the gas mixture travels from the gas blender, through the inspiratory passage to the face mask where the gas mixture is inhaled by the individual, and when the individual exhales a breath, the breath travels from the face mask through the expiratory passage. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification