Two-phase oxygenated solution and method of use

Abstract

A two-phase mixture is provided having a dissolved gas and a suspension of bubbles in a liquid. Methods for making, maintaining, and using the two-phase mixture are also provided. The gas molecules may be introduced into the liquid at a high velocity under elevated pressure to form a supersaturated solution that retains the dissolved gas concentration in solution when the solution is exposed to ambient conditions. The mixture may be used in a number of applications where high concentrations of gas must be retained in solution during prolonged exposure to ambient conditions. An example of use is the treatment of wounds to non-surgically remove dead, devitalized, contaminated and foreign matter from tissue cells. The mixture may be combined with a plastic to encapsulate the suspension of bubbles to minimize liberation of the gas bubbles from the mixture.

1 . A method of debriding tissue, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) dissolving a gas into a liquid to form a solution under elevated pressure to supersaturate the dissolved gas into the solution;    (b) reducing the pressure of the solution;    (c) contacting the tissue with the solution containing said dissolved gas thereby inducing nucleation of micro-bubbles from the solution and growth of said micro-bubbles; and    (d) maintaining the tissue in contact with the solution to debride or non-surgically remove dead, devitalized, contaminated and foreign matter from the tissue by the action of the micro-bubbles.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gas is selected from a group consisting of air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, argon, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solution further contains dissolved oxygen.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gas is an inert gas.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the step of maintaining the tissue in the solution comprises enhancing proliferation of fibroblastic cells in the tissue through exposure of the tissue to the dissolved oxygen.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the concentration of dissolved oxygen in solution is above 20 mg/l after the pressure is reduced.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the step of maintaining the reduced pressure between 0.9 atm and 1.1 atm.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the solution containing micro-bubbles is contacted with the tissue between 65° F. and 77° F.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of dissolving the gas into the liquid comprises pumping the liquid through a conduit and injecting the gas into the pumped liquid at supersonic speeds.  
     
     
         10 . A method of treating damaged tissue comprising the steps of: 
 (a) dissolving a gas into a liquid so as to form a solution of dissolved gas substantially resistant to homogenous nucleation of the gas under static conditions at an ambient pressure;    (b) transferring the solution to an environment having the ambient pressure while adding a minimal amount of energy to the solution so as to maintain the concentration of dissolved gas in the solution as it is transferred to the environment;    (c) immersing damaged tissue into the solution and liberating the gas from the solution in proximity to the damaged tissue; and    (d) maintaining the damaged tissue in the solution to debride or non-surgically remove dead, devitalized, contaminated and foreign matter from the damaged tissue by the action of the micro-bubbles.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the gas is oxygen.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of maintaining the damaged tissue in the solution comprises enhancing proliferation of fibroblastic cells in the damaged tissue through exposure of the tissue to the dissolved oxygen.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the concentration of dissolved oxygen in solution as it is transferred into the environment is above 20 mg/l.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein, in the dissolving step, the solution of dissolved gas is supersaturated and has a dissolved oxygen concentration above 40 mg/l.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein in the immersing step, damaged tissue is immersed into a micro-bubble containing solution having a temperature between 65° F. and 77° F. and in which the reduced pressure is maintained between 0.9 atm and 1.1 atm.  
     
     
         16 . A method of treating tissue, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) dissolving oxygen into a liquid to form a solution under an elevated pressure condition to supersaturate the dissolved oxygen into the solution with respect to a reduced pressure and a reduced temperature;    (b) transferring the solution to a vessel subjected to the reduced pressure and reduced temperature; and    (c) immersing tissue into the solution in the vessel whereby said tissue is exposed to the biochemical action of said oxygen solution.    
     
     
         17 . A method of treating tissue, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a solution of a supersaturated gas in a liquid;    (b) immersing tissue into the solution;    (c) inducing nucleation of gas micro-bubbles in proximity to the tissue; and    (d) maintaining the tissue in the solution to debride or non-surgically remove dead, devitalized, contaminated and foreign matter from the tissue by the volumetric expansion action of the micro-bubbles.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the gas is selected from a group consisting of air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, argon, or combinations thereof.