Mixtures of oxygen and helium for the treatment of respiratory insufficiency

• US 6,592,848 B1
• Filed: 07/03/2000
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Air Liquide Sante International (L'Air Liquide SA)
• Original Assignee: Air Liquide Sante International (L'Air Liquide SA)
• Inventors: Lecourt, Laurent
• Primary Examiner(s): Dees, Jose′ G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DEWITTY, ROBERT M
• Application Number:
  US09/609,372
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 424/45, 424/46, 128/200.23
• US Class Current: 424/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2300/00 Mixtures or combinations of active ingredients, wherein at least one active ingredient is fully defined in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 33/00 Medicinal preparations containing inorganic active ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/008 comprising drug dissolved or suspended in liquid propellant for inhalation via a pressurized metered dose inhaler [MDI]
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/124 characterised by the propellant
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 11/00 Drugs for disorders of the respiratory system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 11/06 Antiasthmatics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 11/08 Bronchodilators
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 11/16 Central respiratory analeptics

Abstract

The invention relates to a ready-to-use binary gaseous mixture containing 63.1 to 69.9% by volume of helium and the remainder being oxygen, preferably a mixture of 65% of helium and of 35% of oxygen, and its use in the treatment of asthma, of obstructive bronchopneumopathies and the like. Such a gaseous mixture can be used as a vector or propellant gas for medicinal aerosols, in particular aerosols containing a therapeutically effective substance chosen from β₂-mimetics, corticoids and anticholinergics.

Claims

1. A package containing ready-to-use gaseous mixture at a pressure greater than 2 bar, said mixture consisting of 63.1 to 69.9% by volume of helium, balance oxygen.

2. A package as claimed in claim 1, wherein said helium is 63.1 to 68% by volume, balance oxygen.

3. A package as claimed in claim 2, wherein said helium is 63.5 to 68% by volume, balance oxygen.