US5086620A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of microencapsulation of hyperbaric gas
Assignee: Wayne State University
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Filing: 1991-02-14
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Granted: 1992-02-11
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Expires: 2011-02-14
Abstract
Abstract Method of encapsulating a hyperbaric gas for the treatment of diseases in humans with encapsulated gaseous precursors, such as microbubbles of oxygen. The method includes the step of immersing a receptacle containing an encapsulating material into a reaction vessel. An ultrasonic probe is then inserted into the reaction vessel. When the vessel is sealed, a source of hyperbaric gas is communicated therewith, and the vessel is then immersed within a cooling fluid so that the hyperbaric gas condenses. Thermal energy is then applied to the receptacle and ultrasound energy is delivered to the ultrasonic probe. When the probe vibrates, hyperbaric gas is distributed within the heated encapsulating material. After the cooling fluid chills the mixture of hyperbaric gas in the encapsulating material, the hyperbaric gas is entrapped therewithin. The encapsulated oxygen precursor can be used to treat atherosclerosis, infections and neoplasms, as well as to provide systemic oxygenation of tissues.
Inventors
- 👤 James R. Spears
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 17:23
CPC Classifications
D; D21; D21C; D21C9/00; D21C9/10; D21C9/147; A; A23; A23L; A23L2/00; A23L2/52; A23L2/54; A61; A61K; A61K9/00; A61K9/48; A61K9/50; A61K9/5089; B; B01; B01F; B01F23/00; B01F23/20; B01F23/23; B01F23/2319; B01J; B01J13/00; B01J13/02; B01J13/04; C; C01; C01B; C01B13/00; C01B13/02; A61M; A61M1/00; A61M1/14; A61M1/16; A61M1/1678; A61M1/32; A61M2202/00; A61M2202/04; A61M2202/0468; A61M2202/0476; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/09
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A method of encapsulating a hyperbaric gas, comprising the steps of: supporting within a reaction vessel a receptacle containing an encapsulating material; inserting an ultrasonic probe into the reaction vessel so that a portion of the ultrasonic probe is juxtaposed to the encapsulating material; sealing the reaction vessel so that the receptacle and the ultrasonic probe are entrapped therewithin; communicating a source of the hyperbaric gas with the reaction vessel so that a space between the encapsulating material and the ultrasonic probe is permeated thereby; immersing the reaction vessel at least partially within a cooling fluid so that the hyperbaric gas condenses within the reaction vessel upon exposure to a cold environment created by the cooling fluid; applying thermal energy to the receptacle so that the encapsulating material is heated thereby; delivering ultrasound energy to the ultrasonic probe so that the probe is vibrated, thereby distributing hyperbaric gas within the heated encapsulating material; and allowing the cooling fluid to chill the mixture of hyperbaric gas and the encapsulating material so that the hyperbaric gas is entrapped within the encapsulating material, thereby forming a hyperbaric gas-enriched encapsulating material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
187 words
A method of encapsulating a hyperbaric gas, comprising the steps of: supporting within a reaction vessel a receptacle containing an encapsulating material; inserting an ultrasonic probe into the reaction vessel so that a portion of the ultrasonic probe is juxtaposed to the encapsulating material; sealing the reaction vessel so that the receptacle and the ultrasonic probe are entrapped therewithin; communicating a source of the hyperbaric gas with the reaction vessel so that a space between the encapsulating material and the ultrasonic probe is permeated thereby; immersing the reaction vessel at least partially within a cooling fluid so that the hyperbaric gas condenses within the reaction vessel upon exposure to a cold environment created by the cooling fluid; applying thermal energy to the receptacle so that the encapsulating material is heated thereby; delivering ultrasound energy to the ultrasonic probe so that the probe is vibrated, thereby distributing hyperbaric gas within the heated encapsulating material; and allowing the cooling fluid to chill the mixture of hyperbaric gas and the encapsulating material so that the hyperbaric gas is entrapped within the encapsulating material, thereby forming a hyperbaric gas-enriched encapsulating material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1, further including the step of communicating a source of inert gas under a high pressure with the reaction vessel so that a super high pressure environment surrounds the ultrasonic probe, the encapsulating material, and the hyperbaric gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the inert gas comprises a gas selected from the group consisting of argon, helium, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the encapsulating material is selected from a group consisting of water, ice, an inorganic salt, a carbohydrate, a phosphate glass, urea, hydroquinone, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the encapsulating material is ice which is enriched with deuterium oxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the encapsulating material is an ice selected from a group consisting of cubic Type I ice, hexagonal Type I ice, Type II ice, Type V ice, Type VI ice, Type IX ice, vitreous ice, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the hyperbaric gas is oxygen.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying thermal energy is provided by an electrical heating source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying thermal energy is provided by a source of laser energy.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying thermal energy is provided by electrical energy.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the receptacle comprises a Group VII metal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic probe comprises a Group IV metal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the cooling fluid comprises liquid nitrogen.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the hyperbaric gas is dissolved within the encapsulating material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the hyperbaric gas entrapped within the encapsulating material exists about 100 microns.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the hyperbaric gas is entrapped within the encapsulating material as a clathrate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the clathrate is a hydrate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the hyperbaric gas-enriched encapsulating material is removed from the reaction vessel and pulverized into a powder having granules with a mean diameter of less than about 100 microns.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of delivering ultrasound energy comprises sonicating in juxtaposition with an immiscible liquid, thereby producing a suspension of granules of the encapsulating material within the immiscible liquid upon cooling.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 19, wherein the immiscible liquid is subsequently removed from the granules of hyperbaric gas-enriched encapsulating material, thereby producing a free-flowing powder.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a solvent, within which partial dissolution of the gas-enriched encapsulating material is arrested to produce small granules of the gas-enriched encapsulating material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 21, wherein the solvent is removed to produce a free-flowing powder of the hyperbaric gas-enriched encapsulating material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, further including the step of injecting hyperbaric gas-enriched encapsulating material intravenously in vivo, thereby promoting contact with body tissues and a release of oxygen.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the encapsulating material is water enriched by deuterium oxide.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the encapsulating material is water in the form of water of hydration within a non-aqueous compound.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 25, wherein the non aqueous compound is selected from a group consisting of an inorganic salt, a carbohydrate, a protein, a phosphate glass, urea, hydroquinone, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the encapsulating material is water which includes approximately 5g % dextrose dissolved in the water.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the encapsulating material is ice and includes the step of providing an aqueous carrier at about 0° C. to about 37° C. to facilitate transport of powdered ice.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the encapsulating material is powdered ice which melts upon contact with blood, thereby releasing micro bubbles of oxygen which rapidly disappear as a result of the affinity of oxygen for hemoglobin and dissolution in plasma.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 29, wherein injection of the powdered ice is facilitated by fluid transport with supercritical carbon dioxide.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
The product of claim 1, wherein the hyperbaric gas-enriched encapsulating material includes micro bubbles having an average size of between about 0.01 microns and about 3.00 microns in diameter.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
43 words
The product of claim 1, wherein particles of the hyperbaric gas-enriched encapsulating material are coated with a material having a slower rate of dissolution upon contact with water than that of the encapsulating material, thereby producing a controlled, slower-release preparation of hyperbaric gas.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
38 words
A product prepared according to the method of claim 1, wherein the hyperbaric gas captured within the encapsulating material yields greater than about 20 cc's of gas per gram of encapsulating material when liberated therefrom under atmospheric pressure.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of encapsulating hyperbaric gas comprising the steps of: connecting a fiber optic to a receptacle formed of a Group VIII metal for delivery of thermal energy thereto; adding an encapsulating material to the receptacle; communicating a source of thermal energy to the fiber optic; placing the receptacle at least partially within a reaction vessel so that the receptacle and the encapsulating material are supported therewithin; inserting an ultrasonic probe so that the ultrasonic probe terminates in juxtaposition with the encapsulating material; securing the reaction vessel so that the probe, the receptacle, and the fiber optic are sealingly engaged therewithin; immersing the reaction vessel in a cooling fluid; introducing a gas into the reaction vessel so that the density of the gas increases upon exposure to a cold environment generated by the cooling fluid; activating the source of thermal energy in order to deliver such energy through the fiber optic to the encapsulating material; delivering ultrasonic energy to the ultrasonic probe, thereby promoting a rapid distribution of hyperbaric oxygen throughout the encapsulating material during sonication; and discontinuing the supply of thermal and ultrasonic energy and allowing the hyperbaric gas-enriched encapsulating material to cool, thereby entrapping the hyperbaric gas within the encapsulating material.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of encapsulating hyperbaric gas comprising the steps of: connecting a fiber optic to a receptacle formed of a Group VIII metal for delivery of thermal energy thereto; adding an encapsulating material to the receptacle; communicating a source of thermal energy to the fiber optic; placing the receptacle at least partially within a reaction vessel so that the receptacle and the encapsulating material are supported therewithin; inserting an ultrasonic probe so that the ultrasonic probe terminates in juxtaposition with the encapsulating material; securing the reaction vessel so that the probe, the receptacle, and the fiber optic are sealingly engaged therewithin; immersing the reaction vessel in a cooling fluid; introducing a gas into the reaction vessel so that the density of the gas increases upon exposure to a cold environment generated by the cooling fluid; activating the source of thermal energy in order to deliver such energy through the fiber optic to the encapsulating material; delivering ultrasonic energy to the ultrasonic probe, thereby promoting a rapid distribution of hyperbaric oxygen throughout the encapsulating material during sonication; and discontinuing the supply of thermal and ultrasonic energy and allowing the hyperbaric gas-enriched encapsulating material to cool, thereby entrapping the hyperbaric gas within the encapsulating material.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of communicating an inert gas into the reaction vessel so that the pressure therein rises to about 50,000 psi.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 34, wherein the step of delivering ultrasonic energy comprises the step of delivering such energy at a frequency within a 20 hertz to 200 kilohertz range.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 34, wherein the hyperbaric gas is selected from a group consisting of oxygen, oxygen radicals, singlet oxygen, or any combination of oxygen moieties.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of at least partially dissolving the hyperbaric gas-enriched encapsulating material in a solvent so that granules containing micro bubbles are produced; and arresting the dissolution step when granules of an appropriate size are reached.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-02-10 | 1995-08-12 | 1996-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-02-10 | 1999-08-12 | 2000-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-02-10 | 2003-08-12 | 2004-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |