Apparatus and process for producing CO2 enriched medical foam

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for producing medical foam for wound care or hair stimulation. The apparatus includes a foam generation unit having a fluid reservoir, a fluid delivery line and a foam generation tip. The apparatus also includes a compressed gas unit having at least one container of compressed gas, a source of electric power, and a gas regulator valve. A supply of wound care or hair stimulating solution is communicably connected to the foam generation tip such that when the apparatus is operated medical foam is produced by the foam generator tip.

Claims

1. An apparatus for producing medical foam, the apparatus comprising: a portable, compressed CO.sub.2 unit, said CO.sub.2 unit including a cylinder cartridge puncture valve and a fitting adapted for selective attachment of a compressed gas cylinder thereto, the compressed CO.sub.2 unit being connected to a gas delivery line; a foam generation tip including two inlets and an outlet, the two inlets include an air hose inlet and a foam solution delivery line, said air hose inlet directly connected to the gas delivery line for the passage of the compressed CO.sub.2 from the CO.sub.2 unit to the foam generation tip; a reservoir containing treatment solution the reservoir directly connected to the foam generation tip via the foam solution delivery line for the passage of the solution from the reservoir to the foam generation tip; and whereby initiating the CO.sub.2 unit causes compressed CO.sub.2 to be delivered through the gas delivery line to the air hose inlet of the foam generation tip, which CO.sub.2 draws the solution from the reservoir into the foam solution delivery line of the foam generation tip such that the foam generation tip generates a CO.sub.2 enriched medical foam.

2. A method of treatment, said method comprising: providing a portable compressed CO.sub.2 unit, the CO.sub.2 unit including a cylinder cartridge puncture valve and a fitting adapted for selective attachment of a compressed gas cylinder thereto, the compressed CO.sub.2 unit being connected to a gas delivery line; selectively securing a compressed gas cylinder containing compressed CO.sub.2 to the compressed CO.sub.2 unit; attaching a foam generation tip to the gas delivery line, the foam generation tip including two inlets and an outlet, the two inlets including an air hose inlet and a foam solution delivery line, the air hose inlet being directly connected to the gas delivery line for the passage of compressed CO.sub.2 from the CO.sub.2 unit to the foam generation tip; providing a reservoir with a therapy solution; communicably interconnecting the reservoir with the foam solution delivery line of the foam generation tip for the passage of solution from the reservoir to the foam generation tip; initiating the CO.sub.2 unit to deliver compressed CO.sub.2 from the compressed gas cylinder though said gas delivery line and to the gas delivery line of said foam generation tip, which CO.sub.2 draws said solution from the reservoir through the foam solution delivery line and into the foam generation tip such that the foam generation tip generates a CO.sub.2 enriched medical foam which is output through the outlet of the foam generation tip; and applying the C0.sub.2 enriched medical foam.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(1) Other objects, features and advantages will occur from the following description of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a side perspective and partly schematic view of an apparatus including compressed gas (CO.sub.2) cylinders and a solenoid of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the foam generating tip and medical solution reservoir;

(4) FIG. 3 is a close-up view of the foam generating tip shown in FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of an alternative compressed gas unit enclosed in a housing;

(6) FIG. 5 depicts a schematic layout of the components of the compressed gas unit of FIG. 4.

(7) In FIG. 1 compressed gas unit 1 comprises solenoid 55 with at least one compressed gas (CO.sub.2) cylinder 27. In one embodiment, compressed gas cylinder 27 is 25 g or larger. Compressed gas cylinder 27 is secured into position to unit 1 by means of cylinder cartridge puncture valve 26 and a fitting 74. In a preferred embodiment, cylinder cartridge puncture valve 26 has a mechanism for piercing cylinder 27, as is known, and holding or securing said cylinder in place. Compressed air is delivered to solenoid 55 from compressed gas cylinder 27 through cylinder cartridge puncture valve 26 and a channel 73 of fitting 74. Compressed gas unit 1 has at least one battery 65, held in place by battery holder 42, for providing electrical power by which solenoid 55 may be activated and then regulated by a pressure activation switch or actuator 37. Battery 65 supplies power to solenoid 55 through switch wire assembly 23, which is connected to activation switch 37. This switch is mounted to a pressure nut 32 carried on threaded conduit 38. Compressed air unit 1 has electrical wiring 39 for providing necessary electricity from switch 37 to solenoid 55. Unit 1 also comprises a black rock regulator 140, which is controlled by secondary regulator adjustment knob 30 when solenoid 55 is activated. Black rock regulator 140 is communicably connected to unit 1 by an elbow pipe 40. The elbow pipe includes a threaded vertical conduit segment 41 joined to regulator 140 through a connector nut and a threaded horizontal conduit 38, which is engaged by pressure nut 32.

(8) Compressed gas cylinder 27 is secured to unit 1 by cartridge puncture valve 26 as is commonly known. In one embodiment, compressed gas cylinder 27 is a 25 g cylinder. Compressed air leaves black rock regulator 140 through a 10/32″ hose port 12b and flows through a hose junction 22, by means of ⅛″ pressure hose 54, until reaching the 10/32″ hose port 12 affixed to solenoid 55. From hose port 12, the compressed air enters solenoid 55. Compressed air unit 1 also has an outlet air port 25, which is connected to solenoid 55 through intermediate 10/32″ hose port 12a for transporting compressed gas, namely CO.sub.2, from solenoid 55 in compressed gas unit 1 to foam generation unit 2, FIG. whenever the solenoid is opened. Outlet gas may be monitored with pressure gauge 52 connected to hose junction 22 through a conduit 45 having threads 46. The threaded end of conduit 45 interengages a nut 48 carried by hose junction 22.

(9) In certain embodiments a second compressed gas cylinder 28, featuring a 12 g or 16 g compressed gas cylinder, may be used in addition to or in lieu of gas cylinder 27. In still other embodiments a larger compressed gas cylinder and expansion chamber may be substituted for the gas cartridges previously described in accordance with the invention. The size and number of compressed gas containers are not limitations of the invention.

(10) In FIG. 2, a CO.sub.2 enriched foam generating unit 2 features a micro hose 256 for receiving compressed gas from unit 1. Compressed CO.sub.2 leaving unit 1 via outlet air port 25 enters unit 2 via micro hose 256. Compressed gas passes through air hose inlet 230 and enters a foam generation tip 280.

(11) As shown in FIG. 3 foam generation tip 280 also includes foam solution delivery line 227 that has an outlet 220 for delivering foam solution into upper chamber 240. This solution may include any of various solutions such as, but not limited to various wound wash solutions, saline, aloe, microbial agents and surfactants which are appropriate for treating wounds and ulcerations. For example, Amerigel® solution may be effectively utilized as the foam solution. Solutions for stimulating hair growth include monoxidil marketed under the brand name Rogaine®. In a preferred embodiment, medical solution from solution reservoir 290, FIG. 2, travels up needle 241 and hub 246 when compressed gas enters tip assembly 280 through inlet 230 after being actuated and released from unit 1. Compressed gas entering tip assembly 280 imparts negative pressure on solution in reservoir 290 and draws solution through needle 241 and into tip solution inlet 225 (FIGS. 2 and 3) through hose 216 due to the Venturi effect. Stopcock 255 is used to regulate or stop flow of solution from reservoir 290. Solution enters solution delivery line 227 from solution line 216. Compressed gas traveling from lower chamber 235 to upper chamber 240 creates negative pressure inside the foam generation tip 280, such that medical foam solution exiting outlet 220 mixes with compressed CO.sub.2 and forms CO.sub.2 enriched medical foam that forms on membrane 215. The force of the compressed gas traveling through foam generation tip 280 and exiting through membrane 215 lifts medical foam/foams outward from membrane 215 and projects the foam into the foam dispensing port 270. The medical foam then exits tip assembly 280 through syringe hub 260 and is directed onto a wound or ulceration requiring treatment. Specifically, CO.sub.2 enriched foam may be applied directly to a wound or ulceration. The CO.sub.2 attracts oxygen to the wound/ulceration, which promotes healing. This is an unexpected beneficial result as, to date, the use of medical foams has been largely limited to sclerotherapy wherein blood vessels/tissue are destroyed. CO.sub.2 enriched foam produced in the foregoing manner may alternatively be used to stimulate hair follicle growth.

(12) FIGS. 4 and 5 depict an alternative embodiment of a compressed gas unit 1a wherein various components of the gas unit are enclosed in a housing 75a. The components of unit 1a are designated by reference numerals that correspond to those of the previously described embodiment and further include “a” designations. In particular, a CO.sub.2 cartridge 27a is connected by a puncture valve 26a to a regulator 140a. The regulator is controlled by an adjustment knob 30a. Regulator 140a is connected through a conduit 54a to both a pressure gauge 52a and a solenoid 55a. More particularly, gauge 52a is connected to a coupling 48a. Solenoid 55a is powered by a battery 65a, which is itself held in place within the housing 75a by a holder 42a. A user accessible luer fitting 25a is communicably connected to solenoid 55a and extends exteriorly of housing 75a.

(13) Unit 1a is activated to open solenoid 55a by engaging switch 37a. The compressed gas unit operates in a manner analogous to that previously described to provide compressed CO.sub.2 from cartridge 27a through luer fitting 25a to an attached foam generating tip as depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3.

(14) From the foregoing it may be seen that the apparatus and method of this invention provides for a novel and beneficial means for wound care and hair growth treatment. While this detailed description has set forth particularly preferred embodiments of the apparatus of this invention, numerous modifications and variations of the structure of this invention, all within the scope of the invention, will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is understood that this description is illustrative only of the principles of the invention and is not limitative thereof.

(15) Although specific features of the invention are shown in some of the drawings and not others, this is for convenience only, as each feature may be combined with any and all of the other features in accordance with this invention.

(16) Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are within the following claims: