Treatment of decompression sickness with inhaled nitric oxide gas

摘要

The present invention includes a method for treating an individual suffering from decompression sickness, a gas mixture that can be used to treat the individual, and an apparatus that can be used to administer the gas mixture. The method includes administering a gas mixture of oxygen and a therapeutically effective amount of nitric oxide gas to the individual. The gas mixture can include a mixture of oxygen, helium and, nitric oxide gases. The gas mixture can be administered using an apparatus that can be worn by the individual. The apparatus includes dispensers for gases, a gas blender to mix the gases, an inspiratory passage, a face mask substantially conformable with the individual's face, and an expiratory passage. When the individual wearing the face mask inhales, the gas mixture travels from the gas blender, through the inspiratory passage to the face mask. The gas mixture is then inhaled by the individual. When the individual exhales a breath, the breath travels from the face mask through the expiratory passage.