Method for administration of therapeutic gases

• US 20070068523A1
• Filed: 11/14/2006
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AGA AB (Linde Plc)
• Original Assignee: AGA AB (Linde Plc)
• Inventors: Fishman, Royce
• Application Number:
  US11/599,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20070068523A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/203.120
• 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

Abstract

Methods for administering medical gases are disclosed including providing the medical gas in compressed gas cartridges containing an amount of the medical gas preferably corresponding substantially to a unit dose of the medical gas and providing a patient with means to access the medical gas from the gas cartridge upon need therefor. Apparatus for administering medical gases is also disclosed including a housing, a cassette associated with the housing containing at least one compressed gas cartridge preferably containing at least an amount of the medical gas substantially as required for a single dose and a patient supply interface to provide the medical gas to the patient.

Claims

1. A method of providing a medical gas to a patient in need thereof comprising providing said medical gas in a plurality of compressed gas cartridges containing an amount of said medical gas substantially corresponding to a unit dose of said medical gas for said patient, and providing said patient with means for accessing said medical gas from said plurality of compressed gas cartridges upon said need.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said medical gas is pressurized to a pressure of up to about 2,000 psig.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said medical gas is pressurized to a pressure of up to about 3,000 psig.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said medical gas comprises N₂O.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said N₂O is at least partially in the form of a liquid.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said N₂O has a pressure fill limit of up to 750 psig.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said N₂O comprises 100% N₂O.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein said medical gas comprises a mixture of medical gases.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said mixture of medical gases has a predetermined maximum pressurization limit at a predetermined temperature when said mixture of medical gases remain in the gaseous state.

10. A method of providing a medical gas to a patient in need thereof comprising providing said medical gas from a compressed gas cartridge, releasing said pressurized medical gas into a chamber so as to reduce said pressure of said medical gas, and transferring said medical gas at said reduced pressure to said patient upon said need.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said medical gas comprises a plurality of said medical gases, and including mixing said plurality of said medical gases within said chamber.

12. The method of claim 10 including analyzing said medical gas at said reduced pressure and transferring said medical gas at said reduced pressure only if said analysis of said medical gas meets predetermined gas criteria.

13. The method of claim 12 including supplying ambient air to said patient instead of said medical gas at said reduced pressure if said analysis of said medical gas does not meet said predetermined gas criteria.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said predetermined gas criteria comprise a predetermined oxygen content.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein said transferring of said medical gas comprises actuating release of said medical gas by inhalation by said patient.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said actuating of said release of said medical gas comprises sensing said inhalation by said patient and releasing said medical gas when said sensor measures a predetermined inhalation pressure by said patient.

17. The method of claim 10 including timing said transferring of said medical gas to said patient.

18. The method of claim 17 including advising said patient when said timing has reached a predetermined time period.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said advising of said patient comprises actuating an alarm.

20. The method of claim 17 including terminating said transferring of said medical gas to said patient when said timing has reached a predetermined time period.

21. The method of claim 10 including heating said medical gas prior to said transferring step.

22. The method of claim 10 wherein said providing of said medical gas from said compressed gas cartridge includes at least a portion of said medical gas being in a liquid state.

23. The method of claim 22 including heating said medical gas at least partially in said liquified state prior to or during said transferring step to convert said medical gas to a gaseous state.

24. A method of providing a medical gas to a patient in need thereof comprising selecting a predetermined medical gas required by said patient, providing said predetermined medical gas in at least one compressed gas cartridge, and providing said patient with a means for accessing said medical gas from said at least one compressed gas cartridge only if said at least one compressed gas cartridge includes said predetermined medical gas.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein means for accessing said medical gas comprises a housing for accommodating only said at least one compressed gas cartridge including said predetermined medical gas.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein said predetermined medical gas comprises a gas selected form the group consisting of N₂O/O₂/He, N₂O/O₂, N₂O/O₂/N₂, Xe/O₂, Xe/O₂/N₂, and Xe/O₂/He.