Methods for diagnosing and treating a heart condition in a patient

• US 20100030091A1
• Filed: 07/24/2009
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vero Biotech LLC
• Original Assignee: Vero Biotech LLC
• Inventors: Fine, David H.
• Granted Patent: US 11,000,484 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/508
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/04 Nitro compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/00 Drugs for disorders of the cardiovascular system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/10 for treating ischaemic or atherosclerotic diseases, e.g. antianginal drugs, coronary vasodilators, drugs for myocardial infarction, retinopathy, cerebrovascula insufficiency, renal arteriosclerosis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/324 Coronary artery diseases, e.g. angina pectoris, myocardial infarction
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/6893 related to diseases not provided for elsewhere

Abstract

Various methods for diagnosing and treating heart conditions are disclosed herein. According to one method, nitric oxide is delivered to a patient'"'"'s lungs when the patient has one or more symptoms of a heart condition. The patient is diagnosed as suffering from a heart condition when a symptom of a heart condition subsides after nitric oxide delivery.

Claims

1. A method for diagnosing a heart condition in a patient comprising:

delivering nitric oxide to the patient'"'"'s lungs; and

diagnosing the patient as suffering from the heart condition when a symptom of the heart condition subsides after the nitric oxide delivery.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein nitric oxide is delivered with air or oxygen-enriched air.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein diagnosing the patient includes ceasing delivery of nitric oxide to the patient and determining whether the symptom returns.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the symptom of the heart condition is chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, lightheadedness, or any combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the heart condition is myocardial infarction.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising administering a high dose of nitric oxide to the patient if the patient is diagnosed with a myocardial infarction.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the nitric oxide is delivered to a patient via a health care kit, the kit comprising a liquid N₂O₄ source, a small air pump that supplies NO gas and a cannula.

8. A method for diagnosing myocardial infarction comprising:

delivering nitric oxide to a patient'"'"'s lungs for a first time period;

diagnosing a myocardial infarction when a patient symptom subsides after nitric oxide delivery;

confirming the diagnosis of myocardial infarction by ceasing delivery of nitric oxide to the patient for a second period of time; and

ascertaining whether the patient symptom re-presents in the patient after the second time period.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the symptom of the heart condition is chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, lightheadedness, or any combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising administering a high dose of nitric oxide to the patient if the patient is diagnosed with a myocardial infarction.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the dose is at least 80 ppm nitric oxide.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the dose is at least 200 ppm nitric oxide.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the dose is at least 80 ppm nitric oxide.

13. A method for treating a heart condition in a patient comprising:

delivering a therapeutic amount of nitric oxide to a patient'"'"'s lungs when the patient exhibits a symptom of a heart condition, wherein the nitric oxide being delivered through a conversion cartridge or a recuperator.

15. A method for preventing or limiting perfusion damage in a patient comprising:

delivering a therapeutic amount of nitric oxide to a patient'"'"'s lungs when the patient exhibits a symptom of a heart condition, wherein the nitric oxide being delivered through a conversion cartridge or a recouperator.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising delivering a therapeutic amount of nitric oxide to a patient'"'"'s lungs before heart surgery.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the dose is at least 80 ppm nitric oxide.

18. A health care kit comprising a liquid N₂O₄ source, a small air pump that supplies NO gas and a cannula.