Perflurochemical Treatment Process And Apparatus

• US 20070190082A1
• Filed: 02/16/2006
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peach Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Peach Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Shaffer, Thomas, Stern, Robert, Wolfson, Marla
• Granted Patent: US 8,535,691 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/400
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 10/023 Rooms for the treatment of patients at over- or under-pressure or at a variable pressure

Abstract

A subject is confined in a closed environment at an elevated pressure through which perfluorochemical fluid containing dissolved oxygen is circulated to treat disease or injury.

Claims

1. A process for treating a subject living organism, the process comprising:

(a) confining at least a portion of the organism in a closed environment;

(b) providing a circulating perfluorochemical fluid in the closed environment;

(c) dissolving a selected gaseous material in the perfluorochemical fluid to provide perfluorochemical fluid containing the dissolved selected material;

(d) providing a pressure differing from atmospheric pressure in the closed environment; and

(e) immersing the at least a portion of the organism in the perfluorochemical fluid containing the selected gaseous material.

2. A process according to claim 1 further comprising the temperature of the closed environment.

3. A process according to claim 1 wherein the process is employed to promote the healing of an area of the body of a living organism affected by injury or disease, at least the affected area is confined in the closed environment, and the selected gaseous material is oxygen.

4. A process according to claim 1 further comprising varying the pressure according to a predetermined pressure variation program.

5. A process according to claim 2 further comprising varying the temperature of the closed environment according to a predetermined temperature variation program.

6. A process according to claim 1 wherein the closed environment is alternately pressurized to a first pressure and a second pressure, in a cycled manner.

7. A process according to claim 1 further comprising providing a biologically active material in the perfluorochemical fluid.

8. A process according to claim 7 wherein the biologically active material is selected from the group consisting of tissue growth promoters, hormones, antibiotics, genetic delivery systems, and pharmaceutical delivery systems.

9. A process according to claim 1 wherein the perfluorochemical fluid is provided in a fluid form selected from the group consisting of liquid, nebulized, vaporized and aerosolized phases.

10. A process according to claim 1 wherein the perfluorochemical fluid comprises at least one fluorinated hydrocarbon having at least one-half of the corresponding hydrocarbon'"'"'s hydrogen atoms substituted by fluorine.

11. A process according to claim 10 wherein at least one fluorinated hydrocarbon is selected from the group consisting of C₄F₉CH═

CH₄C₉, i-C₃F₉CH═

CHC₆F₁₃, C₆F₁₃CH═

CHC₆F₁₃, C₁₀F₁₈, C₈F₁₇Br, (C₆F₁₃)₂O, CF₃CFOCF₂CF₃, (CF₃)₂CFO(CF₂)₃CF₃, (CF₃)₂CFO(CF₂)₄OCF(CF₃)₂, (CF₃)₂CFO(CF₂)₆OCF(CF₃)₂, F-2-butyltetrahydrofuran, F-n-cyclohexylpyrrolidine, F-n-methyldecahydroquinoline, F-n-methyldecahydroisoquinoline, F-adamantane, F-methyladamantane, F-1,3-dimethyladamantane, F-dimethylbicyclo[3,3,1]nonane, F-trimethylbicyclo[3,3,1]nonane, F-tripropylamine, F-tributylamine, C-4 alkyl decalins C₁₄F₂₄/C₁₄F₂₆, C₁₀F₁₈, C₈F₁₇Br, C₆F₁₄-perfluorohexanes, and mixtures thereof.

12. A process according to claim 1 further comprising providing electrically charged particles in the perfluorochemical fluid.

13. A process according to claim 1 further comprising providing magnetically charged particles into the perfluorochemical fluid.

14. A process according to claim 1 further comprising dissolving other therapeutic gases in the perfluorochemical fluid to enhance the oxygenation of the perfluorochemical fluid.

15. A process according to claim 14 wherein other gases are selected from the group consisting of helium, nitric oxide, and other therapeutic gases.

16. A process according to claim 1 further comprising transmitting ultrasound through the liquid perfluorochemical fluid to the affected area, the ultrasound having a frequency selected from those employed in established practice for physical therapy of soft tissue or organ injuries.

17. A process according to claim 1 wherein the entire living organism is confined in the closed environment and further comprising providing respiration means to the living organism.

18. A process according to claim 1 wherein a portion of the living organism is confined in the closed environment.

19. A process for treating a portion of a subject living organism, the process comprising:

(a) confining the portion of the organism in a closed environment;

(b) providing a circulating perfluorochemical fluid in the closed environment;

(c) dissolving a selected gaseous material in the perfluorochemical fluid to provide perfluorochemical fluid containing the dissolved selected material;

(d) providing a pressure differing from atmospheric pressure in the closed environment; and

(e) immersing the portion of the organism in the perfluorochemical fluid containing the selected gaseous material.

20. Apparatus for treating a living organism, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a treatment chamber for confining at least a portion of the living organism in a closed environment;

(b) a reservoir for perfluorochemical fluid;

(c) a first conduit for transferring the perfluorochemical fluid between the reservoir and the treatment chamber;

(d) at least one injection port for providing a selected gaseous material in perfluorochemical fluid; and

(e) a compressor for increasing the pressure of the perfluorochemical fluid to increase the solubility of the selected gaseous material in the perfluorochemical fluid.