US5261875A — Method and apparatus for injection of gas hydrates

Claim 1

Independent Claim 173 words

A method of gasification of an environment of interest having the characteristic of a low concentration of gas, comprising the steps of: preparing a powdered gas hydrate; mixing the hydrate with powdered ice which has a low concentration of a dissolved gas; pulverizing the mixture of the hydrate and the ice into small particles; encapsulating the mixture of the hydrate and the ice within a pressure vessel; applying a high pressure to the mixture; warming the pressure vessel and its contents to provide an aqueous suspension of the hydrate within liquid water formed from the ice upon warming; providing a conduit in communication with the pressure vessel and a catheter, the catheter having one or more high resistance exit ports so that sufficient pressure is maintained for continued stabilization of the hydrate prior to emerging from the catheter; and injecting the suspension of the particles into the environment of interest at a rate which permits mixing of the hydrate with the environment before decomposition of the gas hydrate or bubble coalescence can occur.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 173 words

A method of gasification of an environment of interest having the characteristic of a low concentration of gas, comprising the steps of: preparing a powdered gas hydrate; mixing the hydrate with powdered ice which has a low concentration of a dissolved gas; pulverizing the mixture of the hydrate and the ice into small particles; encapsulating the mixture of the hydrate and the ice within a pressure vessel; applying a high pressure to the mixture; warming the pressure vessel and its contents to provide an aqueous suspension of the hydrate within liquid water formed from the ice upon warming; providing a conduit in communication with the pressure vessel and a catheter, the catheter having one or more high resistance exit ports so that sufficient pressure is maintained for continued stabilization of the hydrate prior to emerging from the catheter; and injecting the suspension of the particles into the environment of interest at a rate which permits mixing of the hydrate with the environment before decomposition of the gas hydrate or bubble coalescence can occur.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of maintaining the hydrate at a low temperature to ensure stability of the hydrate prior to application of pressure.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 2, wherein the step of maintaining the hydrate at a low temperature comprises maintaining the hydrate at a temperature below about -100° C.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 48 words

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of encapsulating the mixture of the hydrate and ice is followed by the step of applying a vacuum to the mixture of the hydrate and ice, prior to application of pressure, to remove dead space gas within the powdered mixture.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying a high pressure is performed at pressures in excess of about 120 bar.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 1, wherein the warming step is performed at temperatures between about -20° C. and +30° C.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 1, wherein the gas hydrate comprises oxygen hydrate.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 1, wherein the gas hydrate comprises oxygen clathrate hydrate.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 1, wherein the gas hydrate comprises inert gas.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 1, wherein the environment of interest comprises hypoxemic blood.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 1, wherein the environment of interest comprises hazardous waste material.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 1, wherein the environment of interest comprises a liquid glass.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 1, wherein the environment of interest comprises a polymer.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 1, wherein the environment of interest comprises a liquid metal.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 172 words

A method of oxygenation of hypoxemic blood, comprising the steps of: preparing a powdered oxygen hydrate; mixing the hydrate with powdered ice which has a low concentration of a dissolved gas; pulverizing the mixture of the hydrate and the ice into small particles; encapsulating the mixture of the hydrate and the ice by sonication within a pressure vessel; subjecting the mixture to a vacuum to remove dead space within the powdered hydrate/ice mixture; applying a high pressure to the mixture; warming the pressure vessel and its contents to provide an aqueous suspension of the hydrate within liquid water formed from the ice upon warming; providing a conduit in communication with the pressure vessel and a catheter, the catheter having one or more high resistance exit ports so that sufficient pressure is maintained for continued stabilization of the hydrate prior to emerging from the catheter; and injecting a suspension of the particles into blood at a rate which permits mixing of the hydrate with the blood before decomposition or bubble coalescence can occur.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 172 words

A method of oxygenation of hypoxemic blood, comprising the steps of: preparing a powdered oxygen hydrate; mixing the hydrate with powdered ice which has a low concentration of a dissolved gas; pulverizing the mixture of the hydrate and the ice into small particles; encapsulating the mixture of the hydrate and the ice by sonication within a pressure vessel; subjecting the mixture to a vacuum to remove dead space within the powdered hydrate/ice mixture; applying a high pressure to the mixture; warming the pressure vessel and its contents to provide an aqueous suspension of the hydrate within liquid water formed from the ice upon warming; providing a conduit in communication with the pressure vessel and a catheter, the catheter having one or more high resistance exit ports so that sufficient pressure is maintained for continued stabilization of the hydrate prior to emerging from the catheter; and injecting a suspension of the particles into blood at a rate which permits mixing of the hydrate with the blood before decomposition or bubble coalescence can occur.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 102 words

A catheter comprising: an elongated cylindrical tube defining a channel for ducting a fluid stream under high pressure; one or more exit extending transversely from the channel through the tube, the exit ports each having a diameter which is sufficiently small and a length adequate to convert the fluid stream into spray upon fluid passage therethrough, so that the high pressure to which the fluid is subjected in the channel reduces as the fluid exits the one or more ports and so that the spray may mix with the blood before said spray can decompose or bubbles within said spray can coalesce.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 102 words

A catheter comprising: an elongated cylindrical tube defining a channel for ducting a fluid stream under high pressure; one or more exit extending transversely from the channel through the tube, the exit ports each having a diameter which is sufficiently small and a length adequate to convert the fluid stream into spray upon fluid passage therethrough, so that the high pressure to which the fluid is subjected in the channel reduces as the fluid exits the one or more ports and so that the spray may mix with the blood before said spray can decompose or bubbles within said spray can coalesce.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 80 words

The catheter of claim 16 comprising: a pair of balloons mounted on the catheter proximal and distal to the one or more exit ports, wherein the elongated cylindrical tube encloses an inner tube extending axially along the channel, the inner tube enclosing a first lumen for housing a fiberoptic device; a second lumen for communicating a pressure source to the balloon mounted on the catheter; the first and second lumens being defined within and separated by an axially extending core.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 37 words

The catheter of claim 17, wherein: the core and the inner tube define therebetween an annular inner cooling channel for ducting a cooling fluid which is in thermal communication with the channel extending along the inner tube.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 51 words

The catheter of claim 18, further comprising: an outer cylindrical tube which encloses the elongated cylindrical tube, the outer cylindrical tube and the elongated cylindrical tube defining therebetween an annular outer cooling channel for ducting a cooling fluid which is in thermal communication with the channel extending along the inner tube.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 55 words

The catheter of claim 19, wherein the outer cylindrical tube defines at its distal end a rounded tip which merges with the inner tube so that inner and outer cooling channels unite at the distal end of the outer cylindrical tube, thereby enabling the cooling fluid to flow between the inner and outer cooling channels.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 99 words

A catheter comprising: an elongated cylindrical tube defining a channel for transporting a hydrate suspension under high pressure which is injected into the blood stream; a single high resistance exit port for dispersion of the hydrate suspension in multiple directions so that the hydrate suspension may mix with the blood before decomposition or bubble coalescence can occur, said exit port having a diameter which is sufficiently small and a length adequate to reduce the high pressure to which said hydrate suspension is subjected in the channel and to convert said hydrate suspension into spray upon passage of suspension therethrough.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 99 words

A catheter comprising: an elongated cylindrical tube defining a channel for transporting a hydrate suspension under high pressure which is injected into the blood stream; a single high resistance exit port for dispersion of the hydrate suspension in multiple directions so that the hydrate suspension may mix with the blood before decomposition or bubble coalescence can occur, said exit port having a diameter which is sufficiently small and a length adequate to reduce the high pressure to which said hydrate suspension is subjected in the channel and to convert said hydrate suspension into spray upon passage of suspension therethrough.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-11-15	1997-05-17	1997-11-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-11-15	2001-05-17	2001-11-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-11-15	2005-05-17	2005-11-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for injection of gas hydrates

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag