Abstract: The invention relates to a gaseous drug containing nitric oxide (NO) gas, such as an NO/nitrogen mixture, for use in the treatment of a patient suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), comprising administration by inhalation of said gaseous drug to said patient. The patient is an adult suffering from severe ARDS characterized by a severity index (PaO2/FiO2) of less than 80 mmHg, a partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) of at least 60 mm Hg and a blood pH of less than 7.25. Preferably, the gaseous drug contains from 200 to 2000 ppmv of NO, with the remainder being nitrogen.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gaseous mixture containing 50% of nitrous oxide (N2O) and at least 20% of oxygen (O2) (mol %) for use as an inhalable medicament for treating chronic pain in a human patient treated with a plurality of drug substances of at least two different therapeutic classes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for storing and distributing a gaseous mixture formed of NO/N2, comprising a container (6) containing an NO/nitrogen mixture equipped with an in-built pressure regulator (8) with an internal passage (22) for gas made of stainless steel and means for regulating the expansion of the gas collaborating with an expansion valve (27) and a valve seat (28) made of stainless steel. A first outlet coupling (21a) referred to as a ‘pressure’ outlet delivers the gas at low pressure and a second outlet coupling (21b) associated with a flow meter device comprising calibrated orifices and a flow rate selection member delivers the gas at several different flow rates. The invention also relates to an installation for distributing a gas containing NO to a patient comprising a ventilator (1) delivering a gas containing oxygen and to a system for storing and distributing a gaseous mixture formed of NO/N2 according to the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing an NO/N2 gaseous mixture, comprising the steps of effecting a purification of impure gaseous nitrogen containing impurities at least of the O2 type by putting the impure nitrogen in contact with a catalyst and then with a molecular sieve; mixing the pure nitrogen obtained with nitric oxide (NO), and obtaining a mixture formed from NO and pure nitrogen containing an NO content of less than 20% by volume and a proportion of impurities of the O2 type of less than 5 ppmv and of the H2O type of less than 40 ppmv. The NO/nitrogen mixture may undergo supplementary dilutions with pure nitrogen. Such NO/nitrogen mixtures can be used for treating, by inhalation, pulmonary vasoconstrictions in adults or children, in particular in new-born babies suffering from primitive pulmonary hypertension or in patients undergoing heart surgery.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas composition containing nitrogen monoxide (NO) and helium (He), which is administered by inhalation in order to prevent or treat at least a bacterial infection affecting all or some of the respiratory tract of a patient, especially the bronchial tree and the lungs.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of storing a NO/N2 mixture in a packaging container, in particular a gas bottle, having an internal volume less than or equal to 12 liters, characterized in that a NO/N2 gaseous mixture containing between 400 ppm and 1000 ppm by volume of NO and nitrogen for the remainder is held at a pressure of at least 250 bar in the internal volume of said container. Preferably, the NO/N2 gaseous mixture is held at a pressure of 280 to 450 bar, and preferably between 300 and 420 bar.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for storing a NO/N2 mixture in a packaging container (6) comprising an inner volume, characterized in that it holds a NO/N2 gaseous mixture containing between 1200 and 4500 ppm by volume of NO, the remainder being nitrogen, at a pressure of at least 100 bar in the inner volume of said container (6), the inner volume being less than or equal to 12 litres (water equivalent).

Abstract: The invention concerns a gaseous medicine comprising a mixture of nitrogen monoxide (NO) and nitrogen (N2) for use by inhalation for the treatment of hypoxemic respiratory failure linked to pulmonary vasoconstriction in humans, said gaseous mixture containing between 1200 and 4500 ppm by volume (ppmv) of nitrogen monoxide (NO) and said hypoxemic respiratory failure being chosen from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn infant (PPHN).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing an NO/N2 gaseous mixture, comprising the steps of effecting a purification of impure gaseous nitrogen containing impurities at least of the O2 type by putting the impure nitrogen in contact with a catalyst and then with a molecular sieve; mixing the pure nitrogen obtained with nitric oxide (NO), and obtaining a mixture formed from NO and pure nitrogen containing an NO content of less than 20% by volume and a proportion of impurities of the O2 type of less than 5 ppmv and of the H2O type of less than 40 ppmv. The NO/nitrogen mixture may undergo supplementary dilutions with pure nitrogen. Such NO/nitrogen mixtures can be used for treating, by inhalation, pulmonary vasoconstrictions in adults or children, in particular in new-born babies suffering from primitive pulmonary hypertension or in patients undergoing heart surgery.

Abstract: The invention relates to a container for packaging NO/N2 mixtures, such as a gas cylinder, comprising a main body (1) comprising an internal volume (7) having a capacity between 2 and 30 liters and containing an NO/N2 mixture at a pressure above atmospheric pressure, the main body (1) being formed from an aluminum alloy, characterized in that the main body (1) is formed from an aluminum alloy comprising aluminum and a proportion by weight of Cr of between 0.05 and 0.80%, of Cu of between 1 and 3%, of Pb of at most 100 ppm, of Zn of between 5 and 8%, and of Mg of between 1 and 3%.

Abstract: Portable gas delivery equipment comprising a gas bottle (1) having a height of less than 50 cm, a gas tap or tap/pressure-regulator (2) mounted on the bottle (1), mechanical protection means (3) placed around the bottle (1) and around the said gas tap or tap/pressure-regulator (2), characterized in that the said protection means (3) comprise at least one external rigid shell (3) formed from at least two sub-parts (3a, 3b, 5) that include catching means (10, 11) for firmly fastening the said sub-parts (3a, 3b, 5) together. One or more additional protective elements (14a, 14b) are provided between the half-shells (3a, 3b) and the tap or tap/pressure-regulator (2) in order to improve the protection of the tap (2). Furthermore, the external rigid shell (3) has an external profile with a neck (12) designed in such a way that it allows the equipment to be manually gripped by a user via this neck (12).

Abstract: The invention concerns the use of at least one gas in combination with at least one active product for manufacturing an inhalable medicament or part of an inhalable medicament intended for the treatment or prevention of pain in humans or animals. The gas is chosen from among helim, oxygen, nitrogen, xenon, hydrogen, carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), argon, krypton, nitrogen monoxide (NO), nitrogen protoxide (N2O), carbonated hydrocarbons, fluorocarbons and mixtures of several of these gases. The active product is chosen from among paracetamol, acetylsalicylic acid, arylcarboxylic acid, corticosteroids, mineralosteroids, non-steoroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and their derivatives, codeine and its derivatives, morphine and morphine mimetics.

Abstract: The invention relates to a ready-to-use binary gaseous mixture containing 63.1 to 69.9% by volume of helium and the remainder being oxygen, preferably a mixture of 65% of helium and of 35% of oxygen, and its use in the treatment of asthma, of obstructive bronchopneumopathies and the like. Such a gaseous mixture can be used as a vector or propellant gas for medicinal aerosols, in particular aerosols containing a therapeutically effective substance chosen from &bgr;2-mimetics, corticoids and anticholinergics.

Abstract: The invention concerns the use of at least one gas in combination with at least one active product for manufacturing an inhalable medicament or part of an inhalable medicament intended for the treatment or prevention of pain in humans or animals. The gas is chosen from among helium, oxygen, nitrogen, xenon, hydrogen, carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), argon, krypton, nitrogen monoxide (NO), nitrogen protoxide (N2O), carbonated hydrocarbons, fluorocarbons and mixtures of several of these gases. The active product is chosen from among paracetamol, acetylsalicylic acid, arylcarboxylic acid, corticosteroids, mineralosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and their derivatives, codeine and its derivatives, morphine and morphine mimetics.