Patent ID: 6962154

Claim:
A method for the metered administration of one or more therapeutically effective gases to a patient, comprising a step to remove harmful or undesired substances from the gas carrying system or from parts of the gas-carrying system, characterized in that the therapeutically effective gases are selected from the group consisting of NO, CO, CO 2 mixtures used to stimulate breathing, H 2 mixtures, SF 6 mixtures, and nitrosoethanol, the removal step comprising purging with at least one other gas or gas mixture selected from the group consisting of air, O 2 , N 2 , Ar, Xe, He, SF 6 , mixtures thereof and other gases which do not have a therapeutic effect, supplying the one or more therapeutically effective gases from a gas source through a first line to the patient, providing at least one shut-off valve in the first line in selective flow communication with an outside line leading to the atmosphere, opening the shut-off valve to open flow communication with the outside line, and flowing the purge gas through the first line and out of the outside line to purge the first line.