Method and devices 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 . Apparatus for the administration of a medical gas to a patient comprising a sealable housing, a cassette including a compressed gas cartridge sealed in said cassette and mountable within said housing when said housing is sealed, said compressed gas cartridge containing a predetermined amount of said medical gas, patient supply means for providing said medical gas to said patient, and gas delivery means for sealably delivering said medical gas from said compressed gas cartridge to said patient only when said housing is sealed. 
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said patient supply means comprises a patient interface. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said predetermined amount of said medical gas substantially corresponds to a unit dose of said medical gas for said patient. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said housing includes an upper portion and a lower portion, and connecting means for connecting said upper portion of said housing to said lower portion of said housing to thereby seal said housing. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said connecting means comprises first thread means at the lower end of said upper portion of said housing and corresponding second thread means at the upper end of said lower portion of said housing. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  including a sealing surface for providing a gas-tight seal against the upper end of said compressed gas cartridge, puncturing means for puncturing said sealing surface and releasing said medical gas from said compressed gas cartridge, and a slidable plug mounting said puncturing means for moving said puncturing means between a first position displaced from said sealing surface and a second position puncturing said sealing surface. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said upper portion of said housing includes gas input means for accepting said medical gas from said compressed gas cartridge and plug means mounted at the lower end of said upper portion of said housing whereby when said housing is sealed said plug means contacts said slidable plug thereby moving said puncturing means into said second position. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said upper portion of said housing includes gas delivery means for delivering said medical gas to said patient supply means. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said upper portion of said housing further includes gas control means for controlling said delivery of said medical gas to said patient supply means. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said gas delivery means includes a blender chamber for receiving said medical gas from said compressed gas cartridge at a predetermined pressure and flow rate. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said gas control means comprises a gas control sensor for sensing the content of said medical gas and valve means for terminating said supply of said medical gas based upon said sensed content of said medical gas. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  including room air breathing means, whereby upon said terminating of said supply of said medical gas said room air breathing means supplies room air for breathing by said patient. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said control means comprises a gas control sensor for sensing the pressure of said medical gas entering said blender chamber, and valve means for terminating said supply of said medical gas based on said sensed pressure of said medical gas. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  including room air breathing means, whereby upon said terminating of said supply of said medical gas said room air breathing means supplies room air for breathing by said patient. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said gas control means comprises a second gas control sensor for sensing the pressures of said medical gas leaving said blender chamber, and wherein said valve means terminates said supply of said medical gas based on said sensed pressure of either said gas control sensor or said second gas control sensor. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said gas control means further comprises an air intake port for permitting air to enter said housing for delivery to said patient supply means and air intake valve means for controlling said entry of said air into said housing. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 1  including a plurality of said compressed gas cartridges containing an amount of a plurality of said medical gases substantially required for a single dose of said plurality of medical gases from said patient.