FR3108516A1 - A device for treating patients with an organism affecting the airways. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to devices for treating Pa patients affected by an organism such as a virus which affects the human body, mainly the respiratory tract via the mouth Bo and the nose Ne, and which, in order to be destroyed, must be subjected to a temperature greater than a given value for a time of a determined duration. The device is characterized by the fact that it comprises a shell 10 whose wall 11 defines a volume 12 with an opening 13 whose size and shape are arranged so that it is suitable for surrounding the nose Ne and the mouth Bo of the patient Pa, the wall 11 comprising at least a first orifice 14; means 20 for fixing the shell 10 on the patient Pa so that the opening 13 is able to surround his nose and his mouth; a source 30 of an air / vapor mixture capable of delivering the mixture to an outlet 32 at a treatment temperature above the given value, the source being controllable, in temperature, humidity and the like, by a control input 31; and at least one duct 40 for connecting in a relatively sealed manner the outlet 32 of the source 30 with the first orifice 14 so that the air / vapor mixture is able to fill the volume 12. Figure to be published: single figure.

Description

Device for treating patients with an organism affecting the respiratory tract.

The present invention relates to devices for treating a patient affected by an organism such as a virus which affects the human body, mainly the respiratory tract via the mouth and nose, and which, in order to be destroyed, must be subjected to a temperature higher than a given value for a fixed period of time.

It is known that, currently, viral epidemics of the respiratory tract appear. To combat them, the public authorities and industrialists are very active but can only act with a significant latency period compared to the date of appearance of these epidemics.

Pharmaceutical engineering launches very expensive and specific detection methods, vaccines and antibodies for each virus that develops into an epidemic, sometimes covering several viruses, but also sometimes toxic to the cells of the human body. This induces a long time between the spread of an epidemic and the manufacture of active weapons against the specific virus.

Combat techniques are directed against viruses by the production of antibodies (natural or medical), by changes in viral reproduction sequences or by damage to the walls or constituents of viruses.

To act against viruses, a way is not made available to Public Health, mainly mechanical and thermal. Apart from the destructive chemical attack (cleaning products that are sometimes not very biocompatible) and mechanical reductions in viral quantity (social distancing and masks), no mechanical or thermal management of viruses in the respiratory tract has been made available to patients.

However, some viruses are sensitive to high temperatures for the human body but relatively moderate (<100°C). They can be destroyed by the effect of heat, which modifies their properties and inactivates them. The Corona Virus 2019 (Covid-19) is destroyed at 57°C for 15 minutes.

Temperatures below 100°C (or even higher depending on the degree of humidity) are bearable by the human body (skin damage for temperatures above 105°C) and are used in saunas for short periods of time.

In industry, pasteurization, the legal definition of which is treatment at a temperature above 71.7°C for 15 minutes, inactivates most viruses.

However, there is currently no medical technique controlled in the patient to mechanically or thermally destroy sensitive viruses in the human body at moderate temperatures (<100°C) and in a localized way (apart from the laser which vaporizes fabrics).

If we consider the case of the Covid-19 virus, it is destroyed at 57°C for 15 minutes. But other viruses are also destroyed at high temperature but below 100°C, without any particular antigenic differentiation. The action can be immediate and does not involve the development of expensive vaccines or antibodies or time-consuming drugs.

Mechanical or heat inactivation is used in the manufacture of antigens that stimulate the natural immune defenses of the human body.

The purpose of anesthesia machines is to maintain an air flow corresponding to the human body and therefore do not have this function of major hyperthermia aimed at pasteurization and destruction of viruses and germs by the induced flow.

Object of the present invention

Also, the purpose of the present invention is to produce a device making it possible to treat patients affected by organisms such as viruses affecting the respiratory tract, to obtain a therapeutic effect according to the pathologies treated, with in addition a preferential respiratory tropism. and a strong local action including that of drugs, for example the injection of antivirals or bronchodilators to reduce the general doses on the body, to treat different conditions: viral infection, asthma, etc.

The device according to the invention allows “physiological” in situ “Pasteurization” in the human body applied by the respiratory route, with the aim of reducing the viral and bacterial load, and increasing the natural immune response.

Definition of invention

More specifically, the subject of the present invention is a device for treating a patient affected by an organism such as a virus, mainly the respiratory tract via the mouth and the nose, and which, to be destroyed, must be subjected to a temperature higher than a value given for a time of a determined duration, characterized in that it comprises:
• a shell whose wall defines a volume with an opening whose size and shape are arranged so that it is able to surround the patient's nose and mouth, said wall comprises at least a first orifice,
• means for attaching said shell to the patient so that the opening is able to surround his nose and his mouth,
• a source of an air/steam mixture capable of delivering said mixture to an outlet, at a treatment temperature higher than said given value, said source being controllable at least in temperature by a control input, and
• at least one duct for connecting said outlet of the source relatively tightly with said first orifice so that the air/steam mixture is able to fill said volume.

Brief Description of the Drawing

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear during the following description given with regard to the appended drawing by way of illustration, but in no way limiting, in which:

The single figure represents, seen in partial section and according to a block diagram, a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention for treating patients affected by a virus or germ affecting the respiratory tract which, to be destroyed, must be subjected at a temperature above a given value for a time of a determined duration.

Warning

It is first specified that, when, according to the definition of the invention, the object of the invention comprises “at least one” element having a given function, the embodiment described may comprise several of these elements. Conversely, if the embodiment of the object according to the invention as illustrated comprises several elements of identical function and if, in the description, it is not specified that the object according to this invention must necessarily comprise a number particular of these elements, the object of the invention may be defined as comprising “at least one” of these elements.

It is specified that when, in the present description, an expression defines on its own, without specific particular mention concerning it, a set of structural characteristics, these characteristics can be taken, for the definition of the object of the protection requested, when this is technically possible, either separately or in total and/or partial combination.

It is further specified that, in the present description, if the adverb “substantially” is associated with a qualifier of a given means, this qualifier must be understood in the strict or approximate sense.
Description of a preferred embodiment of the subject of the invention.

The present invention relates, with regard to the single schematic figure, to a device for treating a patient Pa affected by an organism such as a virus which mainly affects the respiratory tract, via the mouth Bo and the nose Ne, and which, to be destroyed, must be subjected to a temperature higher than a given value for a time of a determined duration similar to that of pasteurization.

In this description, it is taken, as an example, the virus known as Covid-19 which seems to be destroyed when subjected to a temperature of about 57°C for about 15 minutes.

The device comprises a shell 10 whose wall 11 defines a volume 12 with an opening 13 whose size and shape are arranged so that it is able to surround the nose Ne and the mouth Bo of the patient Pa, the wall 11 comprising at least a first orifice 14.

The wall 11 of the shell 10 can be made with different materials which must be able to be sterilized. The edge of the opening 13 should advantageously be made of a material that is flexible enough to match the different shapes of the patients' faces, for example of silicone or the like.

Means 20 are also provided for fixing the shell 10 to the patient Pa so that the opening 13 is able to surround his nose and his mouth, to form a facial mask. These means may consist, for example, of flexible ties, elastic bands or the like.

The device further comprises a source 30 of an air/steam mixture capable of delivering this mixture to an outlet 32 at a treatment temperature above the given value. Such a source must therefore therefore comprise at least two supply inlets, one in product capable of forming steam and the other in air. These entries have been schematized in a single entry referenced VAP.

In addition, very advantageously, this source is controllable at least in temperature, by the rate of humidity or quantity of vapor per volume of air, by a control input 31, by servo-control and/or manual means (these two possibilities have been mentioned in the single figure).

There is also provided at least one duct 40, preferably flexible, to connect the outlet 32 of the source 30 in a relatively tight manner with the first orifice 14 so that the air/steam mixture is able to fill the volume 12.

Very preferably, the device further comprises at least one temperature sensor 51 capable of continuously delivering, at output 52, a signal representative of the temperature in the volume 12 and a humidity level sensor 53 capable of continuously delivering , at output 54, a signal representative of the humidity level in this same volume. It may optionally also include, for example, pressure/volume, pH, etc. sensors.

These sensors can be placed in different places, not necessarily in the volume 12 as illustrated. It is simply necessary that the signals they deliver are representative of the values of the parameters to be measured in the volume 12, for example using charts or previous experiments.

According to another very preferred embodiment, the device comprises a processing unit 60 comprising at least two analysis inputs 61 capable of receiving respectively the signal representative of the temperature and the signal representative of the humidity level in the volume 12, and a analysis result output 62 based on these two signals.

Consequently, very advantageously, the device also comprises servo means for connecting (wired or wireless) the analysis result output 62 to the control input 31 of the source of the air/vapor mixture 30 of so that the source delivers, at its outlet 32, an air/steam mixture at the treatment temperature.

It is very advantageous for the device to further comprise a storage system 70 capable of storing the values of the signals representative, respectively, of the temperature and of the humidity level in the volume 12, for example a recorder or the like. This recorder can be connected to a transmitter 17, for example via a specific Module interface or Telephone, Software, aerial connections, etc. and a computer system with a database and processing.

It is also preferable for the wall 11 of the shell 10 to include a second orifice 16 adapted to be connected to means 19 for delivering, in the form of an aerosol or the like, drugs necessary for the treatment of a certain pathology of the patient Pa .

It is also possible that the source 30 may comprise means for adding medicinal products to the mixture.

In order to optimize it, the device comprises a first valve (not shown) mounted in cooperation with the first orifice 14 so that it is only passing: from the inside of the conduit 40 to the volume 12, and a second valve 18 mounted in cooperation with the wall 11 of the shell 10 so that it is only passing: the volume 12 to the outside of the shell.

This second valve can be mounted in cooperation with another conduit (not shown) so that what is exhaled by the patient can be analyzed to improve the treatment of the patient.

Preferably, the vapor in the air/steam mixture is steam.

The present invention also relates to a therapeutic method for treating patients who have a condition caused by an organism such as a virus/germ affecting the respiratory tract which, in order to be destroyed, must be subjected to a temperature above a given value for a set time. a fixed duration.

This therapeutic process consists, first of all, in programming the operation of the device for an inhalation cycle with the intended products (air, water, etc.), at the treatment temperature for the determined duration.

The patient is then asked to inhale strongly (As) through the mouth Bo to fill the terminal alveoli of the lungs as completely as possible, to exhale (Ex) preferably through the nose Ne, and to repeat this breathing for about 15 minutes.

During the first breaths, the temperature of the air/vapor mixture in the cells will not be as high as that at the outlet of the orifice 14 of the conduit 40 but, after several breaths, it will rise to reach at least the given value. required for the destruction of the virus.

It is recommended that the patient practice two sessions per day, then one per day, depending on the evolution of the pathology.

It should be considered that a treatment of this type, such as anti-tumor antibodies or antibiotics in tuberculosis, can only be recommended in cases of attack by a virus that is not very advanced, or in gentle combination with more specific therapies. viruses in more advanced cases.

Claims (10)

Device for treating patients (Pa) affected by an organism such as a virus which affects the human body, mainly the respiratory tract via the mouth (Bo) and the nose (Ne), and which, in order to be destroyed, must be subjected to temperature higher than a given value for a time of a determined duration, characterized in that it comprises:
• a shell (10) whose wall (11) defines a volume (12) with an opening (13) whose size and shape are arranged so that it is able to surround the nose (Ne) and the mouth (Bo ) of the patient (Pa), said wall (11) comprising at least one first orifice (14),
• means (20) for attaching said shell (10) to the patient (Pa) so that the opening (13) is able to surround his nose and his mouth,
• a source (30) of an air/steam mixture capable of delivering said mixture to an outlet (32) at a treatment temperature higher than said given value, said source being controllable at least in temperature by a control input (31 ), And
• at least one duct (40) for connecting said outlet (32) of the source (30) in a relatively sealed manner with said first orifice (14) so that the air/steam mixture is able to fill said volume (12). Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises:
• a temperature sensor (51) capable of continuously delivering, at output (52), a signal representative of the temperature in said volume (12),
• a humidity level sensor (53) capable of continuously delivering, at output (54), a signal representative of the humidity level in said volume,
• a processing unit (60) comprising two analysis inputs (61) capable of receiving respectively the signal representative of the temperature and the signal representative of the humidity level in said volume (12), and a result output of analysis (62) according to these two signals. Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that it also comprises servo-control means for connecting the analysis result output (62) to the control input (31) of the said source of the air/steam mixture (30) so that said source delivers, at its outlet (32), an air/steam mixture at the treatment temperature. Device according to one of the preceding claims, when it depends on claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a storage system (70), said storage system being capable of storing the values of the signals representative, respectively, of the temperature and the humidity level in said volume (12). Device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the said storage system (70) is a recorder. Device according to Claim 5, characterized in that the recorder is connected to a transmitter (17). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said wall (11) of the said shell (10) comprises a second orifice (16) capable of being connected to means (19) for delivering, in the form of an aerosol , drugs necessary for said patient (Pa). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a first valve mounted in cooperation with the first orifice (14) so that it is only open, from the inside of the duct (40) towards the volume (12). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a second valve (18) mounted in cooperation with the wall (11) of the shell (10) so that it is only passing through the volume ( 12) towards the outside of the hull. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vapor of the air/steam mixture is water vapour.