초록 ▼

A unit dose, gas-filled syringe is provided which is filled with gas and packaged in a gas barrier material prior to use to increase shelf-life, that is, to minimize gas leakage and dilution of the contents of the syringe. The syringe is filled with a selected gas and sealed inside a container made

A unit dose, gas-filled syringe is provided which is filled with gas and packaged in a gas barrier material prior to use to increase shelf-life, that is, to minimize gas leakage and dilution of the contents of the syringe. The syringe is filled with a selected gas and sealed inside a container made from a high gas barrier material. The container is also filled with the selected gas. The container material is selected to have a gas transmission rate sufficient to prevent the selected gas from diffusing out of the container into the atmosphere. The volume of gas in the container is greater that atmospheric pressure to prevent atmospheric contaminants from entering the container and syringe.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A gas syringe for injecting a gas into the body of an animal, said syringe comprising:a prefilled gas syringe containing a unit dose of a pharmaceutically acceptable gas, said gas being substantially in the absence of air, said syringe including a syringe barrel with a ga

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A gas syringe for injecting a gas into the body of an animal, said syringe comprising:a prefilled gas syringe containing a unit dose of a pharmaceutically acceptable gas, said gas being substantially in the absence of air, said syringe including a syringe barrel with a gas delivery outlet, and a plunger slidably received in said syringe barrel for expelling said unit dose of said gas through said delivery outlet; anda container enclosing said gas syringe to prevent contact of said gas syringe with air and contaminants external to said container, said container having an internal volume containing said gas substantially in the absence of air, said container being made of a substantially gas impermeable material and said container having an internal pressure to inhibit diffusion of air and contaminants into said container. [10.] A method of introducing a gas into the body of an animal comprising the steps of:providing a clean and sterile packaged, prefilled syringe having a syringe barrel, delivery outlet and plunger, said syringe containing a unit dose of a pharmaceutically acceptable gas, said gas being substantially free of air, wherein said prefilled syringe is enclosed in a container, said container being formed from a material substantially impermeable to air and said pharmaceutically acceptable gas and having an internal volume surrounding said syringe and being filled with said gas at a pressure at least substantially equal to atmospheric pressure,removing said syringe from said container, andintroducing said delivery outlet into an animal and injecting said gas into said animal. The method of claim 10, wherein said delivery outlet is a needle or cannula. The method of claim 10, wherein said pharmaceutically acceptable gas has a purity of at least about 70% by volume. The method of claim 10, wherein said pharmaceutically acceptable gas has a purity of about 93% to 98% by volume. The method of claim 10, wherein said container has a gas permeability to provide a shelf life of said gas in said syringe of at least one year. The method of claim 10, wherein said pharmaceutically acceptable gas is selected from the group consisting of nitric oxide, nitric oxide-releasing compounds, carbon dioxide, perfluoropropane, perfluoroethane, perfluorobutane, helium and sulfur hexafluoride. The method of claim 10, wherein said container is made from a laminate material having at least one metal foil layer and a layer selected from the group consisting of nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, ethylene vinyl alcohol, polyethylene terephthalate and cellophane. The method of claim 10, wherein said container is formed from a material having a sufficiently low gas permeability whereby the purity of said gas in said container is substantially unchanged after about one year. The method of claim 10, wherein said container is made from a substantially oxygen impermeable material. The method of claim 10, wherein said gas in said container is at a pressure above atmospheric. [20.] A method of introducing a gas into the eye during eye surgery, said method comprising the steps ofproviding a clean and sterile prefilled syringe containing a unit dose of a pharmaceutically acceptable gas and being substantially free of air and oxygen, said syringe having a syringe barrel, a gas delivery outlet, and a plunger, said syringe being completely enclosed in a substantially gas impermeable container, said container having an internal volume surrounding said syringe and being filled with said pharmaceutically acceptable gas at a pressure at least substantially equal to atmospheric pressure,removing said syringe from said container, andintroducing said gas delivery outlet of said syringe into the eye of a patient and introducing said gas into the eye.