Method and apparatus for injection of gas hydrates
First Claim
1. A method of gasification of an environment of interest having the characteristic of a low concentration of gas, comprising the steps of:
- preparing a powdered gas hydrate;
mixing the hydrate with powdered ice which has a low concentration of a dissolved gas;
pulverizing the mixture of the hydrate and the ice into small particles;
encapsulating the mixture of the hydrate and the ice within a pressure vessel;
applying a high pressure to the mixture;
warming the pressure vessel and its contents to provide an aqueous suspension of the hydrate within liquid water formed from the ice upon warming;
providing a conduit in communication with the pressure vessel and a catheter, the catheter having one or more high resistance exit ports so that sufficient pressure is maintained for continued stabilization of the hydrate prior to emerging from the catheter; and
injecting the suspension of the particles into the environment of interest at a rate which permits mixing of the hydrate with the environment before decomposition of the gas hydrate or bubble coalescence can occur.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of gasification of an environment having the characteristic of a low concentration of gas. The method is particularly suited for oxygenation of hypoxemic blood. The method comprises the steps of preparing a powdered oxygen hydrate; mixing the hydrate with powdered ice; pulverizing the mixture of the hydrate and the ice into small particles; encapsulating the mixture of the hydrate and the ice within a pressure vessel; applying a high pressure to the mixture; warming the pressure vessel and its contents to provide an aqueous suspension of the hydrate within liquid water formed from the ice upon warming; providing a conduit in communication with a catheter, the catheter having one or more high resistance exit ports; and intravenous injection of the suspension of particles at a rate which permits mixing of the hydrate with its environment before decomposition of the gas hydrate or bubble coalescence can occur.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of gasification of an environment of interest having the characteristic of a low concentration of gas, comprising the steps of:
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preparing a powdered gas hydrate; mixing the hydrate with powdered ice which has a low concentration of a dissolved gas; pulverizing the mixture of the hydrate and the ice into small particles; encapsulating the mixture of the hydrate and the ice within a pressure vessel; applying a high pressure to the mixture; warming the pressure vessel and its contents to provide an aqueous suspension of the hydrate within liquid water formed from the ice upon warming; providing a conduit in communication with the pressure vessel and a catheter, the catheter having one or more high resistance exit ports so that sufficient pressure is maintained for continued stabilization of the hydrate prior to emerging from the catheter; and injecting the suspension of the particles into the environment of interest at a rate which permits mixing of the hydrate with the environment before decomposition of the gas hydrate or bubble coalescence can occur. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of oxygenation of hypoxemic blood, comprising the steps of:
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preparing a powdered oxygen hydrate; mixing the hydrate with powdered ice which has a low concentration of a dissolved gas; pulverizing the mixture of the hydrate and the ice into small particles; encapsulating the mixture of the hydrate and the ice by sonication within a pressure vessel; subjecting the mixture to a vacuum to remove dead space within the powdered hydrate/ice mixture; applying a high pressure to the mixture; warming the pressure vessel and its contents to provide an aqueous suspension of the hydrate within liquid water formed from the ice upon warming; providing a conduit in communication with the pressure vessel and a catheter, the catheter having one or more high resistance exit ports so that sufficient pressure is maintained for continued stabilization of the hydrate prior to emerging from the catheter; and injecting a suspension of the particles into blood at a rate which permits mixing of the hydrate with the blood before decomposition or bubble coalescence can occur.
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16. A catheter comprising:
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an elongated cylindrical tube defining a channel for ducting a fluid stream under high pressure; one or more exit extending transversely from the channel through the tube, the exit ports each having a diameter which is sufficiently small and a length adequate to convert the fluid stream into spray upon fluid passage therethrough, so that the high pressure to which the fluid is subjected in the channel reduces as the fluid exits the one or more ports and so that the spray may mix with the blood before said spray can decompose or bubbles within said spray can coalesce. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A catheter comprising:
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an elongated cylindrical tube defining a channel for transporting a hydrate suspension under high pressure which is injected into the blood stream; a single high resistance exit port for dispersion of the hydrate suspension in multiple directions so that the hydrate suspension may mix with the blood before decomposition or bubble coalescence can occur, said exit port having a diameter which is sufficiently small and a length adequate to reduce the high pressure to which said hydrate suspension is subjected in the channel and to convert said hydrate suspension into spray upon passage of suspension therethrough.
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Specification