Abstract:
The present invention relates to methods and devices for carrying out cryogenic therapy, particularly on the whole body of a patient, wherein the patient is exposed to gases cooled to cryogenic temperature. The process is performed by introducing the patient into the interior of a treatment cabin and exposing the body to cold air deposited into the cabin space.

Description:
[0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/494,619, filed May 4, 2004, which is a U.S. National Phase of PCT/PL01/00087, filed Nov. 5, 2001. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to methods and the devices for carrying out the cryogenic therapy, particularly on the whole body of the patient, wherein the patient is exposed to the gases cooled to the cryogenic temperature. The process is performed by introducing the patient into the interior of the treatment cabin and exposing the body to the deposition of cold gases into the cabin space.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     There are known methods in medical technology for performing the cryogenic therapy by exposing certain parts of the human body or the whole body to the agents that reduces the temperature. These methods are generally carried out by using liquefied gases or compressed gases. Devices for carrying out the cryogenic treatment containing a therapeutic chamber are also known.  
         [0004]     German Patent Specification No. 3213919 discloses a device for preparing cryogenic air which is provided to the medical cryogenic chamber. The device has an air compressor, a dryer for removing the steam from the compressed air, a heat exchanger and a liquefied gas container. The device is also provided with measuring elements, control elements and protective elements. The parts of the device which contain the cryogenic agents are provided within a thermal-insulated system. This device has several disadvantages, including long starting time and requiring a stand-by system.  
         [0005]     Polish Patent Specification No. 157168 discloses a device for carrying out a cryogenic treatment which has a chamber for patients and a cryogenic air loading unit. The chamber has a loading air circulation system having an air compressor, a dryer and an air cooling circulation system. The cooling air circulation system has a liquefied gas vessel, and heat exchangers which include three gas heat exchangers, i.e., a preliminary heat exchanger, a main heat exchanger and a final heat exchanger; as well as the spraying element. The preliminary heat exchanger and the spraying element are situated inside the chamber. This device resolves the problem of the device of German Patent Specification No. 3213919 by having short starting and closing times.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The objective of the present invention is to provide methods and the cryogenic devices which are directed to carrying out the safe treatment on the whole body of one or several patients. The cryogenic chamber has preferable application in the medical cryogenic therapy, in particular in the therapy of pain and rheumatic disorders.  
         [0007]     The present invention provides a cryogenic chamber with means for producing a low temperature by vaporizing liquefied gas or a mixture of gases inside or outside the cryogenic chamber to provide a cold breathable atmosphere in the chamber. Preferably, the low temperature inside the cryogenic chamber is generated by vaporizing cold liquefied nitrogen and a cold liquefied oxygen or a mixture of cold liquefied nitrogen and a cold liquefied oxygen, for example cold liquefied air, wherein the mixture of gases is a mixture suitable for breathing. A cold gas is produced by vaporizing cold liquefied gases or a cold liquefied mixture of gases, preferable of a composition similar to air. Changing the proportions within the mixture or changing the flow rate of the supplied liquefied gas allows producing atmosphere of cold air with the enhanced amount of oxygen. The composition of the atmosphere inside the cryogenic chamber can be adjusted using simple means, in particular using a control system to selectively open and close valves for introducing the gas into the chamber. It is possible to establish an atmosphere of a defined composition, while the composition is maintained unchanged during the therapeutic session. However, it is also possible to modify the composition of the atmosphere during the therapeutic session. The invention allows therapy with a mixture specific gasses having periods of higher amount of oxygen inside the cryogenic chamber. The cryogenic chamber preferably allows patients to walk inside the chamber.  
         [0008]     Vaporization of cold liquefied gases or cold liquefied mixture of gases inside the cryogenic chamber generates a low temperature in a range of −180° C. to 0° C., preferably −60° C. to −160° C., and the most preferably −120° C. to −160° C. The temperature inside the cryogenic chamber is preferably measured using a temperature sensor, and the measurement signal is provided to the control unit, which controls the amount of cold liquefied gases that need to be vaporized. Dispensing of the cold liquefied gases is performed by the controllable valve placed in the gas supplying line.  
         [0009]     The device of the present invention comprises a cryogenic chamber and a system for introducing into the chamber a cooling agent, preferably a mixture of cold gases. The system preferably contains piping, nozzles, and/or heat exchangers for delivering the liquefied gases and/or vaporizing the gases or gas mixture into the chamber. The preferred device for carrying out the cryogenic therapy, particularly on the whole body of the patient, comprises a chamber having thermally insulated walls with an open upper part. The interior of the chamber contains a space having a low temperature cooling agent therein and a cryogenic cabin, which is separated from the space, and is cooled by the cooling agent.  
         [0010]     In one embodiment, the device for carrying out the cryogenic therapy contains a chamber with an open upper part. The chamber has thermally insulated walls and containing a space with the a low temperature cooling agent. Also, inside the chamber there is a cryogenic treatment cabin, which is separated from the space and cooled in its whole volume by the cooling agent. The cooling agent is preferably in the form of the liquid carbon dioxide or liquid nitrogen evaporated, e.g. by the nozzles. Additionally, the chamber preferably contains, in the upper part, an air intake device which provides the breathing air for the patient or the patients.  
         [0011]     In another embodiment, the chamber has, in its upper part, a movable cover which is preferably transparent, and chamber lighting elements. The cryogenic therapeutic cabin can also includes an emergency door situated in a side wall of the chamber which enables the access to disabled patients on wheelchairs. The chamber may also include monitoring and control systems for temperature and oxygen concentration to maintain the proper temperature and oxygen levels, and to protect the patient or patients from temperature extremes and oxygen deprivation. If the temperature or oxygen concentration reaches beyond the safe limits, an alarm can be activated and the chamber operation can be shut down automatically.  
         [0012]     The methods according to the invention provide proper and effective treatment for the patient; and the devices of the invention provides proper supply to the therapeutic chamber wherein the loaded gas has optimal parameters for the treatment regimen. The process is economical by taking advantage of the deposition of low temperature gas phenomenon.  
         [0013]     The method according to the present invention comprises introducing a patient into a cryogenic chamber and cooling the chamber with a mixture of cold gases, preferably a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen. The cold gas mixture preferably contains the similar amount of oxygen and nitrogen as air to allow safe breathing of a human inside the chamber. Preferably, the method comprises introducing the patient or patients along the transport route through the upper part of a chamber, and then through the interior of the chamber having thermally insulated walls. The chamber contains a space for depositing a low temperature cooling agent. The cooling agent has a very low temperature, preferably about −60° C. to −160° C. The exposure time for the patient depends of the treatment regimen, and preferably ranges from about 0.5 to 5 minutes. After treatment, the patient or the patients are led out of the treatment cabin through the interior of the chamber having the space with the deposited low temperature cooling agent, then along the transport route out of the chamber to a room temperature area.  
         [0014]     It is advantageous to perform the cryogenic therapy, particularly on the whole body of the patient, according to the present invention because it allows for the correct treatment thanks to the preliminary cooling of the patient&#39;s body, which is conducted in the space in the chamber with the deposited low temperature cooling agent, after which the patient is introduced into the treatment cabin. After using the cabin, the patient is gradually led out to the normal temperature area through the space with the deposited low temperature cooling agent in the chamber.  
         [0015]     It is advantageous to use the device for carrying out cryogenic therapy, particularly on the whole body of the patient, according to the present invention because it enables high efficiency by reducing the loss of heat while the patient enters and leaves the chamber through the upper part of the chamber, and limiting the space with the deposited low temperature cooling agent to the treatment chamber. The reduction of the loss of heat is obtained by using the movable transparent cover situated above the upper part of the chamber shielding it partially or completely while the patient or the patients are inside the cabin and when the cabin is empty. The lighting elements are situated in the internal surfaces of the chamber and allow for a comfortable environment for the patient. The emergency door situated in a side wall of the chamber also enables the direct exit of the patient from the cabin if needed. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     The subject matter of the invention is shown by way of example with the reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  shows a view of the treatment chamber;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  shows a longitudinal section of the chamber;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  shows a longitudinal section of the chamber with the air intake device; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  shows one embodiment of the cryogenic chamber.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0021]     An embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 4 , where the device comprises a cryogenic chamber  52 , preferably containing insulated walls. The chamber is cooled by a cooling agent  42  held in a tank  40 . The mixture of gases preferably contains nitrogen and oxygen. Although  FIG. 4  shows a single tank, each component of the cooling agent may be held separately and mixed in the chamber  52 . In that case, there will be more than one tank, each holding a different component of the cooling agent. The cooling agent  42  is led into the chamber by a system of piping  44 , valves,  46 , heat exchanger  50 , and nozzles  56 . The nozzles  56  allow the gas to be vaporized by spraying to get the chamber more dynamic. Near the heat exchanger  50  there is a separating barrier  57  which separates the space in which treatment of a patient is carried out from the space in which the process of evaporation of liquefied gases occurs. This avoids directly contact of the patient with the gases in liquid form. Additionally, there is preferably a control system  48  for controlling the temperature and oxygen concentration in the chamber. This control system  48  communicates with a sensor  54  in the chamber  52  to control the valves  46  to the heat exchanger  50  and to the valves  56  to properly maintain the temperature and oxygen concentration in the chamber  52 . Preferably, the cooling agent is a mixture of liquefied gases and has the same nitrogen and oxygen composition of air, i.e. approximately 21% oxygen and 79% nitrogen. In any event, the oxygen concentration should not be below 19% and should not exceed 24%. These gases can be premixed in the tank  40  or held in different tanks and mixed when vaporized into the chamber.  
         [0022]     In another embodiment, the device according to the invention is shown in the  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . This device contains a chamber  3 , which is opened in the upper part  2 . The chamber  3  has thermally insulated walls  5  and a space  4  with deposited low temperature cooling agent in the form of cold air. At one of the side walls  5 , the chamber  3  has a transport route  1  which allows the patient to step down into the interior of the chamber  3  and to enter the space  4  with the deposited low temperature cooling agent. The patient is preliminarily transported to the low temperature space  4 , and then introduced into a cryogenic therapeutic cabin  6  where the temperature is about −60° C. to −160° C. for a time period of about 0.5 to 5 minutes. The specific exposure time and temperature depends on the doctor&#39;s recommendations and the therapeutic regime being effected. Next, the patient leaves the cryogenic cabin  6  and after passing through the interior of the space  4  with the deposited low temperature cooling agent, the patient is gradually brought to room temperature by leaving the chamber through the transport route  1 .  
         [0023]     In one embodiment, the cryogenic therapeutic cabin  6  is situated inside the chamber  3  and is cooled by a cooling agent, preferably evaporating liquefied gases, from nozzles and pipe system  7 . The cooling agent preferably has the same nitrogen and oxygen composition of air, i.e. approximately 21% oxygen and 79% nitrogen. In any event, the oxygen concentration should not be below 19% and should not exceed 24%. The cold gas mixture can be in liquid form, carried to the chamber by pipes and vaporized by nozzles and pipes into the chamber. Alternatively, the gas mixture can be vaporized into the heat exchanger prior to introduction into the chamber.  
         [0024]     In a preferred embodiment, a device according to the invention is shown in the  FIG. 3 , which has a cryogenic therapeutic cabin  6  situated inside the chamber  3 . The cabin  6  is cooled in its whole volume by spraying a cooling agent, preferably in the form of liquid carbon dioxide cooled to about −60° C. or in the form of liquid nitrogen cooled to about −160° C. The spraying process is preferably carried out by nozzles  7 . In the upper part of the cabin  6  is an intake device  8  which provides breathing air to the patient.  
         [0025]     Preferably, the device according to the present invention has, in an upper part  2  of the chamber  3 , a transparent movable cover  9  and lighting elements  10 . The cryogenic therapeutic cabin  6  preferably has an emergency door  11  situated in a side surface of the chamber  3 . It allows for the entry and exit of disabled patients using wheelchairs or other mobile device. The device also preferably has a monitoring and control system  12  for monitoring and controlling the temperature and the oxygen concentration for safeguarding the patient or the patients.  
         [0026]     The device for the cryogenic therapy can be stationary or mobile adapted to building conditions.  
         [0027]     Although certain presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains that variations and modifications of the various embodiments shown and described herein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims and the applicable rules of law.