Patent Issued for Method and apparatus for therapeutic gas treatment (USPTO 11660250): Respiderm Corporation

2023 JUN 19 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- A patent by the inventors Gergely, Hosszu (Little Rock, AR, US), Norbert, Laszka (Little Rock, AR, US), Rihard, Nagy (Little Rock, AR, US), Rivers, Richard (Baltimore, MD, US), Salamon, Tibor (Little Rock, AR, US), Zoltan, Szakadati (Little Rock, AR, US), filed on December 14, 2018, was published online on May 30, 2023, according to news reporting originating from Alexandria, Virginia, by NewsRx correspondents.

Patent number 11660250 is assigned to Respiderm Corporation (Little Rock, Arkansas, United States).

The following quote was obtained by the news editors from the background information supplied by the inventors: “It is known that gases are important biological messenger molecules, and well-known gases and new gas pre-mixes show promising biological effects. Since ancient times, physicians have observed the positive effects of “carbon dioxide springs” for bathing and drinking. Balneotherapy-treatment through bathing-has been practiced for more than 120 years, for the treatment of cardiovascular (high blood pressure), diabetes mellitus, arthritis and osteoporosis conditions without side effects. Balneotherapies using naturally occurring carbonated water or springs containing carbon dioxide (CO₂) are some of the most thoroughly studied. All living animal and human bodies produce CO₂ as a by-product of cellular metabolism. Highly metabolic, aerobically active tissues produce high amounts of CO₂. There is a direct correlation between the amount of aerobic activity and the production of CO₂. Continuous metabolic activity also requires continuous delivery of oxygen (O₂) from the blood. The amount of blood flow to the tissue is precisely regulated according to the metabolic demand. A persistently high ratio of CO₂ to O₂ is an indication that the blood being supplied is not balanced with the tissue needs. If the biological signals that identify the need for blood persist for a prolonged period, a cascade is triggered for the formation of new blood vessels and the surrounding tissue to support it, thus increasing blood circulation, and lowering blood pressure.

“In addition to the above positive effects, naturally occurring gases have low toxicity profiles. More and more studies also show the bacteriostatic effects of CO₂. Additionally, many scientists and researchers have increasingly been tackling the problem of delivering gaseous pharmacopeia drugs and other medical and purified gases, through the skin and directly to body cavities. Such delivery needs to occur without the side effects associated, for example, in specific transdermal applications with breaking the skin’s natural barrier function, or dosage, pressure, and over inflation issues in case of cavity treatments,

“In recent years, CO₂ balneotherapies have become solidly grounded in the natural sciences. For example, in the European Union, Japan, Brazil, and other countries, health insurance companies have been reimbursing such treatments prescribed by physicians. Studies have evidenced that transdermal CO₂ diffusion increases when the skin is wet. This is why balneotherapies in carbonated water springs, where CO₂ is saturated in water, are effective. However, mineral-rich springs have begun to run dry places around the world. Further independent studies, have shown that high concentrations of CO₂ gas are needed for effective therapeutic treatments. It has also been determined that the desired long-term effects can only be obtained through serial applications.

“A key challenge for the effective therapeutic use of artificial carbonated waters has been keeping the CO₂ in the water during the treatment periods. By virtue of its dipole moments, in contrast to O₂, it can bind and be stabilized by water molecules. Although CO₂ is 30 times more soluble than O₂ it also easily emitted from water. These characteristics are evident upon opening carbonated drinks, such as beers or sodas. Preventing the CO₂ from escaping by properly adjusting the concentration rate and evenly dispersing the CO₂ has posed technological barriers. If one can artificially achieve higher concentrations (1,000 parts per million) of CO₂, one can expect to benefit from similar effects on physiological functions as the above-described CO₂ balneotherapy.

“Still further, delivery of CO₂ as a medical gas has many other applications. However, medical CO₂ systems tend to be bulky, awkward to operate, and costly. Thus, there exists a need for an effective, simple and convenient means for artificially producing carbonated springs and carbonic waters, as well as mixtures involving various other medicinal and therapeutic gases, that is also cost effective to manufacture. As mentioned above, CO₂ balneotherapy has been used to treat major conditions that affect hundreds of millions of people around the globe, such as osteoporosis, arthritis, diabetes mellitus and a variety of cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, CO₂ can have many other natural remedy effects, including, but not limited to, improving immunological responses and neurological functions, reducing swelling, enhancing the building of micro capillaries, increasing microvascular circulation and skin perfusion pressure, muscular strength, eliminating migraine headaches, etc.

“Therefore, what is needed is a convenient, low cost means of administering a treatment to achieve the many positive effects of CO₂, as well as for administering other pharmaceutical medical or purified gases, for potential use in a wide range of applications in a wide variety of fields.”

In addition to the background information obtained for this patent, NewsRx journalists also obtained the inventors’ summary information for this patent: “In accordance with the following disclosure, the above and other issues are addressed by a handheld treatment apparatus for use in treating human and animal bodies with medical or therapeutic gases. These handheld treatment apparatuses may be used in administering a variety of therapeutic gases for numerous medical conditions, including but not limited to the treatment of tumors, wounds, and other cardiovascular and dermatological conditions. The apparatus may also be used to reduce recovery time after surgical procedures where tissue needs repair and incisions need enhanced healing. The apparatus may also be used for the intra-cavity delivery of CO₂, including but not limited to intra-cavity delivery to the uterus, bladder, rectum, stomach, sinuses, and pharynx. The apparatus may also be used to create bacteriostatic environment by providing a high CO₂ concentration environment for various procedures.

“The handheld treatment apparatus may be separated into four distinct portions, the handle portion of the apparatus, the valve housing portion of the apparatus, the treatment receptacle portion of the apparatus and the nozzle portion of the apparatus with each distinct portion containing subcomponents. These four distinct portions of the overall handheld treatment apparatus are connected to one another to disperse therapeutic gases to patients.

“The handle portion of the apparatus is adapted to receive a cartridge assembly containing a medical gas or mixture of medical gases. The cartridge assembly comprises a gas cartridge, containing a-medical gas or gas mixtures, and optionally a seal adapted to receive the gas cartridge. The handle portion is adapted to receive a plurality of sizes of cartridge assemblies. The cartridge assemblies being held in place within the handle portion directly or with a cartridge clip placed inside the handle portion. The handle portion of the apparatus may also be adapted to receive medical gases that are not available in portable size cartridge assemblies. For example, the handle portion of the apparatus may be adapted to receive the output from a larger industrial gas cylinder, an ozone generator, or other medical gas containers and gas generators.

“The valve housing portion of the apparatus is in fluid communication with the handle portion, the treatment receptacle portion, and the nozzle portion of the treatment apparatus. The valve housing portion comprises a valve system which allows for the flow of medical gases.

“The valve housing portion of the apparatus further comprises a cartridge piercing housing which further comprises a piercing pin. The cartridge piercing pin is adapted to pierce the gas cartridge of the cartridge assembly. In other embodiments the cartridge piercing pin is adapted to pierce a seal located either on the gas cartridge or inside the piercing housing when the handle portion is connected to the valve housing portion.”

The claims supplied by the inventors are:

“1. A handheld therapeutic apparatus for the delivery of therapeutic gases, the apparatus comprising: a handle portion adapted to receive a gas cartridge within an interior of the handle portion; a valve housing portion adapted to house a valve system comprising a three-way valve, the valve housing portion being detachably joinable to the handle portion at a collar and including a gas cartridge piercing pin that engages the gas cartridge when the handle portion is joined to the valve housing portion; a treatment receptacle portion detachably joinable to the valve housing portion at an attaching collar, the treatment receptacle portion being in fluid communication with the valve system and adapted to receive a treatment module; and a nozzle portion in fluid communication with the valve system.

“2. The handheld therapeutic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the valve system contains one or more flow control pins.

“3. The handheld therapeutic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handle portion contains a gas cartridge clip capable of holding the gas cartridge in place.

“4. The handheld therapeutic apparatus of claim 3, wherein the handle portion includes at least one channel arranged to receive a portion of the gas cartridge clip, and at least one window providing visibility of at least one of the gas cartridge or written indicia on the gas cartridge clip.

“5. The handheld therapeutic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handle portion is compatible: with at least one of gas cartridges of varying size or with gas delivery via a connection to an external gas source.

“6. The handheld therapeutic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nozzle portion rotates to control the gas-vapor concentration.

“7. The handheld therapeutic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nozzle portion attaches to a body member covering.

“8. The handheld therapeutic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nozzle portion attaches to a gas chamber.

“9. The handheld therapeutic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nozzle portion attaches to tubing.

“10. The handheld therapeutic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus has a gas flow-control dial for regulating the flow of gas.

“11. The handheld therapeutic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus has an actuator button that starts and stops the flow of gas.

“12. A gas cartridge assembly for use in the handheld treatment apparatus, comprising: a silicone seal including a sealing portion having a plurality of perforations, and a gas cartridge, wherein the silicone seal is attached to the gas cartridge at a pierceable cartridge aperture of the gas cartridge.

“13. The gas cartridge assembly of claim 12, wherein the gas containing cartridge silicone seal creates an airtight seal when pierced by a piercing pin.

“14. A handheld therapeutic apparatus for the delivery of therapeutic gases, the apparatus comprising: a valve system within a valve housing portion, the valve system comprising a three-way valve with control pins for controlling the flow of gas through the valve system; a handle portion adapted to receive a gas source, the handle portion being removably attachable to the valve housing portion; a treatment receptacle portion removably attachable to the valve housing portion; a nozzle portion removably attachable to the valve housing portion; and wherein the valve housing portion is adapted to engage the treatment receptacle portion and the nozzle portion such that the receptacle treatment portion and nozzle portion are in fluid communication with the valve system.

“15. A handheld therapeutic apparatus for the delivery of therapeutic gases, the apparatus comprising: a valve system comprising a three-way valve with control pins for controlling the flow of gas through the valve system; a handle portion adapted to receive a gas source; a treatment receptacle portion; a nozzle portion; and a valve housing portion adapted to house the valve system and adapted to engage the treatment receptacle portion and the nozzle portion such that the receptacle treatment portion and nozzle portion are in fluid communication with the valve system; wherein the treatment receptacle portion is a gas meter.

“16. The handheld therapeutic apparatus of claim 14 wherein the treatment receptacle is a liquid reservoir.

“17. The handheld therapeutic apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus further comprises a piercing pin and piercing pin housing.

“18. A method of treating an area of an individual user with medical or therapeutic gases, the method compromising: a) assembling a handheld therapeutic apparatus, said therapeutic apparatus comprising: (i) a valve system comprising a three-way valve with control pins for controlling the flow of gas through the valve system; (ii) a handle portion adapted to a gas cartridge assembly; (iii) a treatment receptacle portion; (iv) a nozzle portion; and (v) a valve housing portion adapted to house the valve system and adapted to engage the treatment receptacle portion and the nozzle portion such that the receptacle treatment portion and nozzle portion are in fluid communication with the valve system; b) placing the gas cartridge assembly in the handle portion; c) attaching the handle portion to the valve housing such that a piercing pin pierces the gas cartridge allowing gas to flow from the gas cartridge through the valve system to the treatment receptacle portion and the nozzle portion; d) delivering the gas to the patient through the nozzle portion.”

URL and more information on this patent, see: Gergely, Hosszu. Method and apparatus for therapeutic gas treatment. U.S. Patent Number 11660250, filed December 14, 2018, and published online on May 30, 2023. Patent URL (for desktop use only): https://ppubs.uspto.gov/pubwebapp/external.html?q=(11660250)&db=USPAT&type=ids

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