System and method for therapeutic application of dissolved oxygen

Abstract

A system and method for generating an oxygen enriched aqueous solution for therapeutic application includes a diffuser comprising a first diffusing member having a surface incorporating surface disturbances, and a second diffusing member positioned relative to the first diffusing member to form a channel through which an aqueous solution and oxygen gas may flow. A reservoir containing the aqueous solution is connected to a pump that draws the aqueous solution from the reservoir and inputs the aqueous solution into the diffuser. The aqueous solution is moved through the channel relative to the surface disturbances to create cavitation in the aqueous solution to diffuse the oxygen gas into the aqueous solution to produce an oxygen enriched aqueous solution.

1 .- 48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . A stabilized aqueous gas solution or emulsion, comprising an aqueous saline solution of molecularly diffused or emulsified gas combined with water in stabilized molecular structures having enhanced persistence over at least days. 
     
     
         50 . The stabilized aqueous gas solution or emulsion of  claim 49 , wherein the stabilized molecular structures comprise gas-containing bubble structures. 
     
     
         51 . The stabilized aqueous gas solution or emulsion of  claim 49 , wherein the saline comprises physiological saline. 
     
     
         52 . The stabilized aqueous gas solution or emulsion of  claim 49 , wherein enhanced persistence comprises enhanced persistence over at least three days. 
     
     
         53 . The stabilized aqueous gas solution or emulsion of  claim 49 , wherein the gas comprises oxygen. 
     
     
         54 . The stabilized aqueous gas solution or emulsion of  claim 53 , comprising from about 8 to about 70 parts per million (ppm) oxygen, and wherein the stabilized molecular structures having enhanced persistence over at least days comprise oxygen. 
     
     
         55 . The stabilized aqueous gas solution or emulsion of  claim 53 , comprising from about 30 to about 60 parts per million (ppm) oxygen, and wherein the stabilized molecular structures having enhanced persistence over at least days comprise oxygen. 
     
     
         56 . The stabilized aqueous gas solution or emulsion of  claim 49 , wherein molecularly diffused or emulsified gas combined with water in stabilized molecular structures comprises gas that is molecularly diffused or emulsified into the saline solution by mechanical mixing and cavitation means. 
     
     
         57 . The stabilized aqueous gas solution or emulsion of  claim 56 , wherein mechanical mixing and/or cavitation means comprises at least one mechanical force selected from the group consisting of ultrasonic waves, compression, decompression, rarefaction, expansion, contraction, succession, implosion, cavitation, rotary flow, and vortex. 
     
     
         58 . The stabilized aqueous gas solution or emulsion of  claim 49 , wherein a bonding angle of the water within the stabilized molecular structures is shifted relative the respective bonding angle of water not within the stabilized molecular structures. 
     
     
         59 . The stabilized aqueous gas solution or emulsion of  claim 49 , further comprising at least one therapeutic agent or drug. 
     
     
         60 . The stabilized aqueous gas solution or emulsion of any one of  claims 49  through  59 , wherein the stabilized molecular structures comprise oxygen-containing bubble structures. 
     
     
         61 . The stabilized aqueous gas solution or emulsion of  claim 49 , comprising ozone. 
     
     
         62 . A method of therapeutically applying dissolved oxygen, comprising:
 obtaining a stabilized aqueous oxygen-containing solution or emulsion, comprising an aqueous saline solution of molecularly diffused or emulsified oxygen combined with water in stabilized molecular structures having enhanced persistence over at least days; and   applying the stabilized aqueous oxygen-containing solution or emulsion topically to be absorbed through the skin, wherein a method of therapeutically applying dissolved oxygen is afforded.   
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein applying comprises applying to a surface of a living tissue. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the living tissue is outside of a body. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the tissue is being transported or stored. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein applying comprises applying to the cornea of the eye. 
     
     
         67 . A method of stably infusing gas into aqueous saline, comprising:
 obtaining an aqueous saline solution; and   infusing a gas into the saline solution using mechanical mixing and cavitation means to molecularly diffuse or emulsify the gas into the saline in the form of gas combined with water in stabilized molecular structures having enhanced persistence over at least days, wherein method of stably infusing gas into aqueous saline is afforded.   
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein mechanical mixing and/or cavitation comprises at least one of ultrasonic waves, compression, decompression, rarefaction, expansion, contraction, succussion, implosion, rotary flow, and vortex. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein cavitation comprises generation of cavitation bubbles. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the stabilized molecular structures comprise gas-containing bubble structures. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the saline comprises physiological saline. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein enhanced persistence comprises enhanced persistence over at least three days. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the gas comprises oxygen. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 73 , comprising infusion of from about 8 to about 70 parts per million (ppm) oxygen, and wherein the stabilized molecular structures having enhanced persistence over at least days comprise oxygen. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 73 , comprising infusion of from about 30 to about 60 parts per million (ppm) oxygen, and wherein the stabilized molecular structures having enhanced persistence over at least days comprise oxygen. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein a bonding angle of the water within the stabilized molecular structures is shifted relative the respective bonding angle of water not within the stabilized molecular structures. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 67 , further comprising addition of at least one therapeutic agent or drug. 
     
     
         78 . The method of one of  claims 67  through  77 , wherein the stabilized molecular structures comprise oxygen-containing bubble structures. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the gas comprises ozone.