Perfluorocarbon associated gas exchange

Claim 1

A method for maintaining respiratory gas exchange, comprising the steps of: first introducing into the pulmonary air passages of a mammalian host a volume of perfluorocarbon liquid from about 50% to not more than about 100% of the pulmonary functional residual capacity of the host; and then physically admixing a volume of breathing gas with said introduced volume of perfluorocarbon liquid in the pulmonary air passages whereby said breathing gas forms bubbles inside said liquid-containing pulmonary air passages so that oxygenation of said perfluorocarbon liquid takes place in vivo, said admixing resulting when said host takes multiple breaths of a breathing gas.

Claim 2

A method for maintaining respiratory gas exchange, comprising the steps of: first introducing into the pulmonary air passages of a mammalian host a volume of perfluorocarbon liquid from about 50% to not more than about 100% of the pulmonary functional residual capacity of the host; and then physically admixing a volume of breathing gas with said introduced volume of perfluorocarbon liquid in the pulmonary air passages whereby said breathing gas forms bubbles inside said liquid-containing pulmonary air passages so that oxygenation of said perfluorocarbon liquid takes place in vivo, said admixing resulting when said host takes multiple breaths of a breathing gas.

Claim 15

A device for regulating fluid flow during perfluorocarbon associated gas exchange, comprising: first and second conduits having distal and proximal ends, an endotracheal tube, a chamber adapted for establishing fluid communication between said endotracheal tube and said conduits, said chamber interposed between said conduits and said endotracheal tube, at least one valve connected to said conduits to reversibly establish fluid communication between said chamber and either the proximal end of the first but not the second conduit, or the proximal end of the second but not the first conduit, means associated with said first conduit to introduce and remove a perfluorocarbon liquid to and from said chamber and into a lung, and means associated with said second conduit to introduce and remove breathing gas separate and apart from said perfluorocarbon liquid to and from said chamber to permit a patient into whom the endotracheal tube is introduced to breathe a breathing gas into and out of perfluorocarbon-containing pulmonary passages into which said perfluorocarbon liquid has been introduced by said device.

Claim 16

A device for regulating fluid flow during perfluorocarbon associated gas exchange, comprising: first and second conduits having distal and proximal ends, an endotracheal tube, a chamber adapted for establishing fluid communication between said endotracheal tube and said conduits, said chamber interposed between said conduits and said endotracheal tube, at least one valve connected to said conduits to reversibly establish fluid communication between said chamber and either the proximal end of the first but not the second conduit, or the proximal end of the second but not the first conduit, means associated with said first conduit to introduce and remove a perfluorocarbon liquid to and from said chamber and into a lung, and means associated with said second conduit to introduce and remove breathing gas separate and apart from said perfluorocarbon liquid to and from said chamber to permit a patient into whom the endotracheal tube is introduced to breathe a breathing gas into and out of perfluorocarbon-containing pulmonary passages into which said perfluorocarbon liquid has been introduced by said device.

Claim 20

A system for implementing perfluorocarbon associated gas exchange, comprising: a device for first introducing perfluorocarbon liquid into a patient's pulmonary air passages, a gas ventilator for maintaining respiratory gas exchange in a patient's perfluorocarbon liquid-containing pulmonary air passages including means for secondly introducing and removing multiple breaths of breathing gas into said passages during a treatment period separate and apart from said introduction of said perfluorocarbon liquid so that said breathing gas physically admixes with said perfluorocarbon liquid in said pulmonary air passages, of a patient whereby a patient's pulmonary air passages simultaneously contain both said breathing gas and said perfluorocarbon liquid, and a device operably associated with both said introducing device and said gas ventilator for regulating the aforesaid introduction of liquid and introduction and removal of gas during the treatment period.

Claim 21

A system for implementing perfluorocarbon associated gas exchange, comprising: a device for first introducing perfluorocarbon liquid into a patient's pulmonary air passages, a gas ventilator for maintaining respiratory gas exchange in a patient's perfluorocarbon liquid-containing pulmonary air passages including means for secondly introducing and removing multiple breaths of breathing gas into said passages during a treatment period separate and apart from said introduction of said perfluorocarbon liquid so that said breathing gas physically admixes with said perfluorocarbon liquid in said pulmonary air passages, of a patient whereby a patient's pulmonary air passages simultaneously contain both said breathing gas and said perfluorocarbon liquid, and a device operably associated with both said introducing device and said gas ventilator for regulating the aforesaid introduction of liquid and introduction and removal of gas during the treatment period.