Syringe device, system and method for delivering ozone gas

• US 8,961,471 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2007
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spinafx Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Minimus Spine, Inc.
• Inventors: Hooper, David M., Foster, Thomas, Henson, Noel
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, SHEFALI DILIP
• Application Number:
  US12/000,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20090152098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,631 Days
• Field of Search: 604/181, 604/25, 604/190, 604/199, 604/23, 604/236, 604/24, 604/26, 604/187, 604/218, 422/186.07
• US Class Current: 604/199
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 33/00 Medicinal preparations containing inorganic active ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0019 Injectable compositions; Intramuscular, intravenous, arterial, subcutaneous administration; Compositions to be administered through the skin in an invasive manner non-active ingredients are additionally classified in A61K47/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/006 for gases, e.g. CO2
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3117 Means preventing contamination of the medicament compartment of a syringe
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/167 with energizing means, e.g. light, vibration, electricity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0216 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7536 allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/06 Packaging for specific medical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/16 having provision for disinfection or sterilisation A61M39/143 takes precedence; methods or apparatus for disinfection or sterilisation A61L2/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/001 Apparatus specially adapted for cleaning or sterilising syringes or needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/002 Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. for syringes or needles, kits for diabetics needle protection, e.g. caps, A61M5/3202; for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3129 Syringe barrels A61M5/3205 and A61M5/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/11 by electric discharge
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/115 characterised by the electrical circuits producing the electrical discharge
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/10 Dischargers used for production of ozone
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/64 Oxygen

Abstract

In accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment, a syringe device, a method and a system for delivering a therapeutic amount of ozone are disclosed. A sterility case can enclose a syringe portion and can maintain sterility while the syringe device is interfaced to an ozone generator. A valvably-controlled fluid channel can extend from a barrel of the syringe portion through the case. Conducting elements can be attached to the case and can breach the case. The conductive elements can be connected to electrodes. The electrodes can be attached to the syringe portion. The syringe portion can be filled with oxygen gas via the valvably-controlled fluid channel. An electric current can be provided to the conductive elements from the ozone generator resulting in a corona discharge from at least one of the electrodes. The therapeutic amount of ozone can be produced from the oxygen gas and the syringe portion delivered into a sterile field without compromise.

Claims

1. A syringe device, comprising:

a syringe having a plunger slidably engaged with a barrel, the barrel and the plunger cooperating to define a gas chamber;

a case for providing substantial sterility, the case including an opening and configure to enclose the syringe;

a fluid channel penetrates through the opening of the case when the case operatively encloses the syringe, the fluid channel in fluid communication with the gas chamber;

a first electrode and a second electrode attached to, or contacting, the syringe; and

two or more conducting elements on the case, the two or more conducting elements including a first conducting element and a second conducting element configured to directly or indirectly contact the first electrode and the second electrode, respectively,

wherein the syringe and the case are configured to interface with an ozone conversion unit, and the case maintains sterility of the syringe while passing an electrical current from the first and second conducting elements to the first and second electrodes while interfaced with the ozone conversion unit to effectuate a corona discharge and produce an amount of ozone gas from an amount of oxygen gas within the gas chamber.

2. The syringe device of claim 1, further comprising:

a sterility cap having a portion that is configured to be inserted into the opening of the case and allows for the fluid channel to extend through the sterility cap when the case operatively encloses the syringe.

3. The syringe device of claim 1, further comprising:

a filter in fluid communication with the syringe, the filter within the case when the case operatively encloses the syringe.

4. The syringe device of claim 1 wherein the first electrode is one of a wire electrode and a foil electrode and the second electrode is one of a wire electrode and a foil electrode.

5. The syringe device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is in a breaching relationship with the barrel.

6. The syringe device of claim 5 wherein at least one of the first conducting element and the second conducting element has a projection in a breaching relationship with the case, the projection for contacting one of the first electrode and the second electrode.

7. The syringe device of claim 1 wherein the first conducting element and the second conducting element breach the case, the first conducting element directly contacting the first electrode and the second conducting element directly contacting the second electrode.

8. The syringe device of claim 1 wherein the case includes a removable sterility cap permitting the syringe to be extracted after a desired ozone concentration is produced.

9. The syringe device of claim 1 wherein the case is rigid or flexible.

10. The syringe device of claim 1 wherein the case is tubular.

11. The syringe device of claim 1 wherein the ozone conversion unit uses ultraviolet light to measure the amount of ozone gas.

12. The syringe device of claim 1 wherein the syringe device is configured to interface with an oxygen concentrator, or a tank of substantially pure oxygen.

13. The syringe device of claim 1 wherein the case and the barrel allow for ultraviolet light transmission from the ozone conversion unit to reach inside and through the gas chamber.

14. The syringe device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the two or more conducting elements springs out when the syringe device is removed from the ozone conversion unit to impede reassembly.

15. The syringe device of claim 1, wherein the fluid channel is a valvably-controlled fluid channel extending from the barrel and defined through at least one of:

one or more stopcock valves;

one or more filters;

one or more luer fittings;

one or more O-rings;

one or more sterility caps; and

any combination thereof.