Method for administration of therapeutic gases

Abstract

Methods for administering medical gases are disclosed including providing the medical gas in compressed gas cartridges containing an amount of the medical gas preferably corresponding substantially to a unit dose of the medical gas and providing a patient with means to access the medical gas from the gas cartridge upon need therefor. Apparatus for administering medical gases is also disclosed including a housing, a cassette associated with the housing containing at least one compressed gas cartridge preferably containing at least an amount of the medical gas substantially as required for a single dose and a patient supply interface to provide the medical gas to the patient.

1 . A method of providing a medical gas to a patient in need thereof comprising providing said medical gas in a plurality of compressed gas cartridges containing an amount of said medical gas substantially corresponding to a unit dose of said medical gas for said patient, and providing said patient with means for accessing said medical gas from said plurality of compressed gas cartridges upon said need.  
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said medical gas is pressurized to a pressure of up to about 2,000 psig.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said medical gas is pressurized to a pressure of up to about 3,000 psig.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said medical gas comprises N 2 O.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said N 2 O is at least partially in the form of a liquid.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said N 2 O has a pressure fill limit of up to 750 psig.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said N 2 O comprises 100% N 2 O.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said medical gas comprises a mixture of medical gases.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said mixture of medical gases has a predetermined maximum pressurization limit at a predetermined temperature when said mixture of medical gases remain in the gaseous state.  
   
   
       10 . A method of providing a medical gas to a patient in need thereof comprising providing said medical gas from a compressed gas cartridge, releasing said pressurized medical gas into a chamber so as to reduce said pressure of said medical gas, and transferring said medical gas at said reduced pressure to said patient upon said need.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said medical gas comprises a plurality of said medical gases, and including mixing said plurality of said medical gases within said chamber.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  including analyzing said medical gas at said reduced pressure and transferring said medical gas at said reduced pressure only if said analysis of said medical gas meets predetermined gas criteria.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  including supplying ambient air to said patient instead of said medical gas at said reduced pressure if said analysis of said medical gas does not meet said predetermined gas criteria.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said predetermined gas criteria comprise a predetermined oxygen content.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said transferring of said medical gas comprises actuating release of said medical gas by inhalation by said patient.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said actuating of said release of said medical gas comprises sensing said inhalation by said patient and releasing said medical gas when said sensor measures a predetermined inhalation pressure by said patient.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10  including timing said transferring of said medical gas to said patient.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  including advising said patient when said timing has reached a predetermined time period.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said advising of said patient comprises actuating an alarm.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17  including terminating said transferring of said medical gas to said patient when said timing has reached a predetermined time period.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 10  including heating said medical gas prior to said transferring step.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said providing of said medical gas from said compressed gas cartridge includes at least a portion of said medical gas being in a liquid state.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  including heating said medical gas at least partially in said liquified state prior to or during said transferring step to convert said medical gas to a gaseous state.  
   
   
       24 . A method of providing a medical gas to a patient in need thereof comprising selecting a predetermined medical gas required by said patient, providing said predetermined medical gas in at least one compressed gas cartridge, and providing said patient with a means for accessing said medical gas from said at least one compressed gas cartridge only if said at least one compressed gas cartridge includes said predetermined medical gas.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein means for accessing said medical gas comprises a housing for accommodating only said at least one compressed gas cartridge including said predetermined medical gas.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said predetermined medical gas comprises a gas selected form the group consisting of N 2 O/O 2 /He, N 2 O/O 2 , N 2 O/O 2 /N 2 , Xe/O 2 , Xe/O 2 /N 2 , and Xe/O 2 /He.