Portable devices for administration of therapeutic gas mixtures and methods of use

Inventors

Bogin, Vlad • Williamson, Larry

Assignees

Nobilis Therapeutics Inc

Abstract

Disclosed herein are portable gas delivery systems and therapeutic methods of use. More specifically, the portable gas delivery systems herein include a regulator having an inhalation device, such as a mouthpiece, and is configured to operably couple with removable sealed gas cartridges that comprise a therapeutic gas mixture of either one or more noble gases or nitrous oxide.

Core Innovation

The invention provides a portable, handheld, gas delivery system that uses a sealed pressurized cartridge containing a predetermined amount of compressed therapeutic gas mixture. The therapeutic gas mixture comprises either nitrous oxide or a noble gas mixture, and the cartridge has a topside and underside. The system is configured for self-administration by providing a demand regulator that releases a portion of the gas mixture in response to patient inhalation through an inhalation device.

The demand regulator includes a cartridge receiver configured to releasably couple with the topside of the pressurized cartridge in a sealed connection, allowing intake of the gas mixture into the regulator based on the inhalation type of the patient. Inhalation actuates release of the gas mixture from the pressurized cartridge through the cartridge receiver into the regulator, lowering the pressure of the gas mixture within the regulator to ambient pressure. Exhalation through the inhalation device is released from the regulator through an outtake.

The system further includes instructions from a medical provider to the patient directing a breath type during use, and includes a cage coupled to the regulator to house the cartridge when coupled to the cartridge receiver. The cage comprises a cam and lever operably coupled to the cage at a pivot point that allows the cam and lever to swivel into open and closed positions, where the cam engages the underside of the cartridge to apply pressure toward the cartridge receiver, and swivels oppositely to release the cartridge.

Claims Coverage

The independent claim requires five core inventive feature groupings: a sealed pressurized cartridge with a predetermined amount of a compressed therapeutic gas mixture, a demand regulator that performs inhalation-actuated release and includes an inhalation device and an outtake for exhalation venting, medical-provider instructions for breath type, a cartridge receiver configured to releasably couple with the topside of the cartridge in a sealed connection, and a cage with a cam-and-lever mechanism to lock and release the cartridge while applying pressure toward the cartridge receiver.

Overall, the claim centers on a portable handheld system combining a sealed pressurized cartridge containing nitrous oxide or a noble gas mixture with a demand regulator that releases gas in response to inhalation while lowering regulator pressure to ambient and venting exhalation through an outtake, together with medical-provider instructions for breath type and a cage that uses a cam-and-lever mechanism to apply pressure to, and release, the cartridge via a sealed cartridge receiver coupling.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications