Apparatus and method for administering a therapeutic agent into tissue

Abstract

An apparatus for administering a therapeutic is provided. In various embodiments, the apparatus includes a syringe having a barrel and a plunger and having an ozone generator associated therewith. The generator is initiated and a therapeutic gas is accumulated within the barrel, at which point it can be delivered from the barrel into a target site via a needle, thereby delivering therapeutic effects to that target site.

1 . A method of producing a gaseous therapeutic agent comprising:
 placing an accumulator within a barrel of a syringe into an accumulation configuration;   generating said therapeutic agent;   filling said accumulator with said therapeutic agent; and,   automatically changing said accumulator into a delivery configuration from said accumulation configuration when a desired level of said agent has been generated.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said therapeutic agent comprises an oxygen-ozone mixture. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein generating said therapeutic agent comprises providing an ozone generator for generating the oxygen-ozone mixture and a power source electronically coupled to the ozone generator. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the ozone generator is configured to communicate with the accumulator. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein generating said therapeutic agent comprises:
 delivering an electrical signal from the power source to the accumulator; and   passing an oxygen containing gas through an electrical field such that the oxygen interacts with the electrical field to create the oxygen-ozone mixture.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the ozone generator comprises a corona discharge device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the corona discharge device comprises a dielectric and an electrode. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the frequency of said electrical signal is between about one tenth of a kilohertz and about one thousand kilohertz. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the frequency of said electrical signal is between about twenty kilohertz and about sixty kilohertz. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the voltage of said electrical signal is between about one kilovolt and twenty kilovolts. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the voltage of said electrical signal is between about three kilovolts and about six kilovolts. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the generator is configured to operate at a temperature ranging between about 15° C. and about 30° C. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the generator is configured to operate at a temperature ranging between about 20° C. and about 25° C. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein delivering an electrical signal comprises providing an on-off switch in electrical communication with the ozone generator and the power source. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein generating said therapeutic agent comprises:
 providing an ozonated gel; and   heating said ozonated gel to allow the desorption of the ozone-oxygen mixture from said ozonated gel.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said ozonated gel is formed by sparging ozone through olive oil and then chilling the olive oil. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein generating said therapeutic agent comprises irradiating oxygen that may be contained within the accumulator. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein irradiating oxygen comprises providing an ultraviolet light source configured to shine ultraviolet light on the oxygen. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein a wavelength of light generated by the ultraviolet light source ranges between about 100 nm and about 700 nm. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein a wavelength of light generated by the ultraviolet light source ranges between about 140 nm and about 200 nm. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein generating said therapeutic agent comprises:
 providing an electrochemical cell configured to communicate with an accumulator, said electrochemical cell comprising an anode and a cathode; and   creating an electrical current between the anode and the cathode such that water that may be in the electrochemical cell electrolyzes to produce ozone and oxygen at the anode.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the generator is configured to create a ratio of micrograms of ozone to cubic centimeters of oxygen, wherein the ratio ranges from about five to about one-hundred. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the generator is configured to create a ratio of micrograms of ozone to cubic centimeters of oxygen, wherein the ratio ranges from about twelve to about forty. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the generator is configured to create a ratio of micrograms of ozone to cubic centimeters of oxygen of about twenty. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said therapeutic agent is generated within the accumulator.