US5485827A — Methods and devices for treating plumonary vasoco…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 63 words

A method for treating or preventing reversible pulmonary vasoconstriction in a mammal, which method comprises providing gaseous nitric oxide (NO) mixed, immediately prior to inhalation, with an oxygen-containing gas to form a gas mixture containing a therapeutically effective concentration of NO; and causing a mammal in need of such treatment or prevention to inhale a therapeutically effective amount of said NO-containing gas mixture.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 63 words

A method for treating or preventing reversible pulmonary vasoconstriction in a mammal, which method comprises providing gaseous nitric oxide (NO) mixed, immediately prior to inhalation, with an oxygen-containing gas to form a gas mixture containing a therapeutically effective concentration of NO; and causing a mammal in need of such treatment or prevention to inhale a therapeutically effective amount of said NO-containing gas mixture.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 1, wherein said pulmonary vasoconstriction is acute pulmonary vasoconstriction.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 80 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said mammal has or is at risk of developing a clinical condition selected from the group consisting of pneumonia, traumatic injury, aspiration or inhalation injury, fat embolism in the lung, acidosis, inflammation of the lung, adult respiratory distress syndrome, acute mountain sickness, post cardiac surgery acute pulmonary hypertension, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, perinatal aspiration syndrome, hyaline membrane disease, acute pulmonary thromboembolism, acute pulmonary edema, heparin-protamine reactions, sepsis, hypoxia, asthma, and status asthmaticus.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 1, wherein said pulmonary vasoconstriction is chronic pulmonary vasoconstriction which has a reversible component.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 1, wherein said mammal has or is at risk of developing a clinical condition selected from the group consisting of chronic pulmonary hypertension, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, chronic pulmonary thromboembolism, idiopathic pulmonary hypertension, and chronic hypoxia.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 1, wherein the concentration of NO in said NO-containing gas mixture is within a predetermined concentration range, and said NO-containing gas mixture is inhaled for at least three minutes.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said concentration is at least 5 ppm.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 7 wherein said concentration is 180 ppm or less.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said concentration is at least 40 ppm.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 1, wherein said concentration is at least 80 ppm.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 1, wherein said NO-containing gas mixture comprises nitric oxide, oxygen, and nitrogen gases.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 11, wherein said No-containing gas mixture comprises between 20-99% oxygen gas by volume.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 11 words

The method of claim 1, wherein said mammal is a human.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 1, wherein said NO-containing gas mixture is inhaled in the absence of tobacco smoke.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 64 words

A method for diagnosing the reversibility of chronic pulmonary vasoconstriction in a mammal, which method comprises (a) measuring said mammal's PAP, (b) providing gaseous NO mixed, immediately prior to inhalation, with an oxygen-containing gas to form an NO-containing gas mixture; (c) causing said mammal to inhale said NO-containing gas mixture for a period of time, and (d) measuring said mammal's PAP during said period.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 64 words

A method for diagnosing the reversibility of chronic pulmonary vasoconstriction in a mammal, which method comprises (a) measuring said mammal's PAP, (b) providing gaseous NO mixed, immediately prior to inhalation, with an oxygen-containing gas to form an NO-containing gas mixture; (c) causing said mammal to inhale said NO-containing gas mixture for a period of time, and (d) measuring said mammal's PAP during said period.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 58 words

A method for treating or preventing bronchoconstriction in a mammal, which method comprises providing gaseous NO mixed, immediately prior to inhalation, with an oxygen-containing gas to form a gas mixture containing a therapeutically-effective concentration of NO, and causing a mammal in need of such treatment or prevention to inhale a therapeutically effective amount of said NO-containing gas mixture.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 58 words

A method for treating or preventing bronchoconstriction in a mammal, which method comprises providing gaseous NO mixed, immediately prior to inhalation, with an oxygen-containing gas to form a gas mixture containing a therapeutically-effective concentration of NO, and causing a mammal in need of such treatment or prevention to inhale a therapeutically effective amount of said NO-containing gas mixture.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 11 words

The method of claim 16, wherein said mammal is a human.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 16, wherein said NO-containing gas mixture is inhaled in the absence of tobacco smoke.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 16, comprising the additional step of, following said inhalation of said NO-containing gas mixture, causing said mammal to inhale a therapeutically-effective dose of a bronchodilator compound in liquid or solid form.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 19, wherein said bronchodilator compound is inhaled with a gas mixture comprising nitric oxide.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 19, wherein said bronchodilator compound is a nitric oxide-releasing compound.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 21, wherein said bronchodilator compound is S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine, S-nitrosocysteine, nitroprusside, nitrosoguanidine, glyceryl trinitrate, isoamyl nitrite, inorganic nitrite, azide, or hydroxylamine.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 19, wherein said bronchodilator compound is an anticholinergic agent, a β 2 agonist, a methyl xanthine, a calcium-channel shocker, a glucocorticoid drug, or cromolyn sodium.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 16, wherein said bronchoconstriction is associated with asthma.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 49 words

A method of improving gas exchange in the lungs of a mammal, said method comprising providing gaseous NO mixed, immediately prior to inhalation, with an oxygen-containing gas to form a gas mixture containing a therapeutically-effective concentration of NO, and causing said mammal to inhale said NO containing gas mixture.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 49 words

A method of improving gas exchange in the lungs of a mammal, said method comprising providing gaseous NO mixed, immediately prior to inhalation, with an oxygen-containing gas to form a gas mixture containing a therapeutically-effective concentration of NO, and causing said mammal to inhale said NO containing gas mixture.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 10 words

The method of claim 25, wherein said mammal is hypoxic.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 26, wherein said mammal is a human suffering from a lung injury.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method claim 25, wherein said inhalation is accomplished in the absence of tobacco smoke.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 25, wherein said NO-containing gas mixture comprises at least 1 ppm NO in air, O 2 , or an air/O 2 mixture.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 74 words

An inhaler device comprising a housing defining (a) a chamber containing an inhalable pharmaceutically-active agent and (b) a lumen in communication with said chamber; and a vessel containing pressurized gas comprising at least 1 ppm nitric oxide, said vessel having a mechanism for controllably releasing said gas into said chamber, thereby suspending said agent in said released gas; said lumen being configured to route said released gas into the respiratory system of a patient.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 74 words

An inhaler device comprising a housing defining (a) a chamber containing an inhalable pharmaceutically-active agent and (b) a lumen in communication with said chamber; and a vessel containing pressurized gas comprising at least 1 ppm nitric oxide, said vessel having a mechanism for controllably releasing said gas into said chamber, thereby suspending said agent in said released gas; said lumen being configured to route said released gas into the respiratory system of a patient.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 18 words

The device of claim 30, wherein said pharmaceutically-active agent comprises a bronchodilator compound in liquid or solid form.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 27 words

The device of claim 31, wherein said compound comprises an anticholinergic agent, a β 2 agonist, a methylxanthine, a calcium-channel blocker, a glucocorticoid drug, or cromolyn sodium.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 14 words

The device of claim 30, wherein said pharmaceutically-active agent comprises a nitric oxide-releasing compound.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 28 words

The device of claim 33, wherein said compound is selected from the group consisting of S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine, S-nitrosocysteine, nitroprusside, nitrosoguanidine, glyceryl trinitrate, isoamyl nitrite, inorganic nitrite, azide, and hydroxylamine.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 13 words

The device of claim 30, wherein said pharmaceutically-active agent comprises an antimicrobial agent.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 12 words

The device of claim 35, wherein said antimicrobial agent comprises an antibiotic.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 11 words

The device of claim 35, wherein said antimicrobial agent comprises pentamidine.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 20 words

The device of claim 30, wherein said pharmaceutically-active agent comprises a surfactant suitable for the treatment of hyaline membrane disease.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 27 words

The device of claim 30, wherein said vessel also has a mechanism for controllably releasing said gas into said lumen, in a manner that bypasses said chamber.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-01-22	1999-07-24	2000-01-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-01-22	2003-07-24	2004-01-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-01-22	2007-07-24	2008-01-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Methods and devices for treating plumonary vasoconstriction and asthma

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