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 predetermined amount of a medical gas to a patient comprising a housing, at least one compressed gas cartridge mountable within said housing containing said medical gas, gas collection means for collecting said predetermined amount of said medical gas at a location separate from said at least one compressed gas cartridge, and gas delivery means for delivering said predetermined amount of said medical gas to said patient from said separate location. 
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said gas collection means comprises a blender chamber. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  including gas control means for controlling said delivery of said medical gas to said patient. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said gas control means comprises a gas control sensor for sensing the property of said medical gas entering said blender chamber and valve means for terminating said supply of said medical gas based upon said sensed value of said medical gas. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  including room air breathing means, whereby upon said terminating of said supply of said medical gas said room air breaching means supplies room air for breathing by said patient. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said gas control means comprises an air inlet port for permitting air to enter said housing for delivery to said patient and an air intake valve for controlling said entry of said air when said valve means terminates said supply of said medical gas. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said gas control means comprises a manual gas control member. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said manual gas control member is selected from the group consisting of a button, switch and lever.