Patent Application
20180339124
The presently disclosed subject matter relates to an apparatus for supplying hydrogen gas, and in particular, to a hydrogen gas supplying apparatus configured to intermittently administer hydrogen gas.
Recently, the use of hydrogen and hydrogen water in various treatments including inflammation treatment and ischemic reperfusion is attracting attention (see, e.g., WO2007/021034A1).
It has been reported that hydrogen has effects such as hydroxy radical reduction, ghrelin secretagogue, and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 21 induction. Hydrogen is the smallest molecule, and can easily reach all the internal organs and cells forming the organs. Since hydrogen has the above-described functions, hydrogen exerts effects such as suppression of death of cells due to oxidant stress or radioactive rays, that of ischemic reperfusion injury, anti-inflammation, that of diabetes, and that of Parkinson disease. Moreover, it is said that a treatment and health management method using hydrogen have high safety to humans (see, e.g., Ikuroh Ohsawa, “Suiso Bunshi Igaku no Genjyo to Tenbo (Molecular Hydrogen Medicine: Current Status and Future Challenges)”, Feb. 8, 2011, Kiso Roka Kenkyu (Biomedical Gerontology), Vol. 35 No. 1, pp. 1-8). Under such circumstances, a hydrogen-containing gas and hydrogen-containing water attract much attention in the health promotion industry and medical sites (related articles published on May 8, 2007 in the morning papers of Kanagawa Shimbun, The Mainichi Newspapers, The Asahi Shimbun, and The Yoraiuri Shimbun).
Ito et al. disclose a method for enhancing treatment effects by intermittent administration of hydrogen, and teach that, when hydrogen was intermittently administered, high effects were obtained in four of six cases (Ito, et al., “Drinking hydrogen water and intermittent hydrogen gas exposure, but not lactulose or continuous hydrogen gas exposure, prevent 6-hydroxydopamine-induced Parkinson's disease in rats”, Medical Gas Research 2012, 2:15).
To intermittently administer hydrogen, a hydrogen-containing gas (first gas) and a non-hydrogen-containing gas (second gas, for example, the air) are alternately administered. However, the administration may be affected by a residual gas in a supply path (e.g., a tube) for supplying hydrogen, and there is a possibility that hydrogen at a desired concentration cannot be administered. For example, in a case where a hydrogen-containing gas containing 2% hydrogen and treatment air (0% hydrogen) are alternately output, when the output of the gas containing 2% hydrogen is started, the treatment air remains in the tube so that it is difficult to administer 2% hydrogen into the body. Failing to administer a desired concentration of hydrogen may result in an insufficient effect of intermittent administration of hydrogen.
Illustrative aspects of the present invention provide a hydrogen gas supplying apparatus that can effectively perform intermittent administration of hydrogen.
According to an aspect of the present invention, a hydrogen gas supplying apparatus includes a switching section configured to output, in accordance with switch instructions, one of a hydrogen-containing gas that contains hydrogen and a non-hydrogen-containing gas that does not contain hydrogen, an output section through which the gas that has been output from the switching section is supplied to a subject, and a controller configured to send the switch instructions to the switching section in accordance with an elapsed time and to control an amount of hydrogen that is output from the switching section. The controller controls an amount of hydrogen output per unit time during a first period from a start of switching from the non-hydrogen-containing gas to the hydrogen-containing gas to be greater than an amount of hydrogen output per unit time during a second period successively following the first period.
First, a problem associated with an intermittent administration of hydrogen will be again described.
The hydrogen gas supplying apparatus 300 has a timer 310, a controller 320, a first gas tank 330, a second gas tank 340, a switching section 350, and an output section 360. When the timer 310 reaches a predetermined time, the controller 320 outputs a gas switch signal to the switching section 350. The first gas tank 330 is a tank which holds a first gas. The first gas contains x% hydrogen (4>x>0). The second gas tank 340 is a tank which holds a second gas. The second gas is a gas which does not contain hydrogen (e.g., the air). The switching section 350 supplies only one of the first gas and the second gas to the output section 360, by using the gas switch signal as a trigger. The output section 360 supplies the gas output from the switching section 350, to the subject. The output section 360 may be configured by selecting arbitrary members from a gas tube, a reservoir bag, a mask, and the like.
Here, the capacity of the output section 360 is indicated by V (L), and the flow rate of the gas which is to be administered to the subject is indicated by Q (L/sec). In this case, the hydrogen concentration indicated by the solid line in the chart (C) of
C(t)=A x(1−et/T)
T=V/Q [sec] Expression (1)
The switching section 350 switches the outputs of the first gas and the second gas at timings t1, t2, and t3. As illustrated in the chart (C) of
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.
The hydrogen gas supplying apparatus 100 may include a timer 110, a controller 120, a flow rate valve 121, a flow rate valve 122, a first gas supply source 130, a second gas supply source 140, a switching section 150, and an output section 160. The hydrogen gas supplying apparatus 100 intermittently supplies hydrogen to the subject who is connected to the output section 160.
The timer 110 is configured to measure time by using, for example, a quartz oscillator and the like.
The first gas supply source 130 supplies a first gas which is a hydrogen-containing gas that contains hydrogen. The first gas is a treatment gas. The first gas supply source 130 may be a gas cylinder which is filled with the first gas, or configured so as to mix internally generated hydrogen with another gas to produce the first gas. In the case of the configuration where hydrogen is internally generated, the first gas supply source 130 may have a configuration which is provided with, for example, an electrolysis unit that electrolyzes pure water to generate hydrogen. In the following description, it is assumed that the hydrogen containing concentration of the first gas is x% (0<x<4).
The second gas supply source 140 supplies a second gas which is a non-hydrogen-containing gas that does not contain hydrogen. The term “does not contain hydrogen” means that the gas does not contain hydrogen in an amount at which hydrogen exhibits treatment effects, and has a concept including a case where the gas contains about 0.01% of hydrogen. For example, the second gas may be treatment air or the like. The second gas supply source 140 may be, for example, a gas cylinder which is filled with the second gas.
The switching section 150 supplies one of the first gas and the second gas to the output section 160 in accordance with switch instructions (e.g., switch signals) from the controller 120. The switching section 150 may be, for example, a solenoid valve or the like.
The output section 160 administers the gas output from the switching section 150, to the subject. The output section 160 may be, for example, a gas tube or the like. The output section 160 may be connected to a reservoir bag, a mask for a respirator, or the like.
The controller 120 monitors the timer 110 to acquire an elapsed time. The controller 120 sends the switch instructions to the switching section 150 at given timings to switch the gas output. When it is set that the gas output is to be switched every 30 seconds, for example, the controller 120 monitors the elapsed time, and outputs the switch instruction every 30 second to the switching section 150. The timings at which the gas output is to be switched may be changed through an operating section (e.g., an interface such as buttons arranged on a housing of the hydrogen gas supplying apparatus 100).
The controller 120 controls the flow rate valves 121, 122 to control the output amounts of the first gas and the second gas. The flow rate valve 121 is adjusting means for adjusting the output amount of the first gas which is output from the first gas supply source 130. The flow rate valve 122 is adjusting means for adjusting the output amount of the second gas which is output from the second gas supply source 140. Alternatively, the flow rate adjustment may be realized by a configuration which does not use a valve.
When switching from the first gas to the second gas, the controller 120 controls the flow rate of the first gas per unit time during a given time period (first period) from the start of the switching to be greater than the flow rate of the first gas per unit time during a successively following time period (second period). When switching from the second gas to the first gas, the controller 120 controls the flow rate of the second gas per unit time during a given time period (third period) from the start of the switching to be greater than the flow rate of the second gas per unit time during a successively following time period (fourth period). The details of these controls will be described with reference to
The controller 120 controls the outputs of the first gas and the second gas so as to be switched at predetermined timings (t1, t2, and t3 in the present example). This causes only one of the first gas and the second gas to be output from the switching section 150.
The controller 120 provides a state in which the output amount of hydrogen per unit time is large during the given time period (first period) from the timing at which the output is switched to the first gas. That is, the controller 120 controls the amount of hydrogen per unit time during the first period immediately after the switching to be larger than the amount of hydrogen per unit time during the successively following second period. The first period is the time period from the timing at which the output is switched to the first gas (hydrogen-containing gas). Preferably, the first period starts immediately after the timing at which the output is switched to the first gas. However, the first period may allow a slight time lag after the timing at which the switching starts (e.g., the first period may start in about 0.5 to 1 second after the switching).
The second period is a period after the end of the first period, and during which the first gas is supplied. The controller 120 controls the flow rate of the first gas to adjust the output amount of hydrogen. In the case where the first period is 1 second, for example, the flow rate of the first gas in the first period is larger than that of the first gas for 1 second (the unit time period=1 second) in the second period. Therefore, the output amount of hydrogen per unit time during the first period is greater than the output amount of hydrogen per unit time during the second period. This control may be implemented by adjusting the flow rate valve 121.
The controller 120 provides a state in which the flow rate of the second gas (non-hydrogen-containing gas) output per unit time is large during the given time period (third period) from the timing at which the output is switched to the second gas. That is, the controller 120 controls the flow rate of the second gas per unit time during the third period after the switching to be greater than the flow rate of the second gas per unit time in the successively following fourth period. The third period is the time period from the timing at which the output is switched to the second gas. Preferably, the third period starts immediately after the timing at which the output is switched to the second gas. However, the third period may allow a slight time lag after the timing at which the switching starts (e.g., the third period may start in about 0.5 to 1 second after the switching). The fourth period is a period after the end of the third period, and during which the second gas is supplied. In the case where the third period is 1 second, for example, the flow rate of the second gas in the third period is larger than that of the second gas for 1 second (the unit time period=1 second) in the fourth period. This control may be implemented by adjusting the flow rate valve 122.
At timing t1, the flow rate of the first gas is rapidly increased (see the chart (A) of
At tuning t2, furthermore, the flow rate of the second gas is rapidly increased (see the chart (B) of
As such, when switching the gas, the flow rate is controlled to be increased for the given time period from the timing of the switching, whereby it is possible to cancel the effect of the residual gas.
In the configuration of
The third gas supply source 131 outputs a third gas containing hydrogen. The third gas contains hydrogen at a higher concentration than the first gas. The third gas supply source 131 may be a gas tank filled with the third gas, or may be configured to internally produce hydrogen (e.g., an electrolysis unit).
The controller 120 controls the switching section so as to output the third gas in the first period (the given time period after the start of switching from the non-hydrogen-containing gas to the hydrogen-containing gas). Then, the controller 120 controls the switching section so as to output the first gas in the second period succeeding the first period. With respect to the output of the second gas, the controller 120 may perform a control which is substantially identical with the control illustrating in the chart (B) of
That is, the controller 120 may control the amount of hydrogen output per unit time during the first period to be greater than the amount of hydrogen output per unit time during the second period. In the configuration of
According to the hydrogen gas supplying apparatus 100 described above, the controller 120 provides a state in which the output amount of hydrogen per unit time during the given time period (first period) after the switching of the output from the second gas (non-hydrogen-containing gas) to the first gas (hydrogen-containing gas) is greater than the output amount of hydrogen per unit time during the successively following time period (second period) (see the chart (A) of
The controller 120 controls the flow rate of the second gas per unit time during the given time period (third period) from the start of the switching from the first gas to the second gas to be greater than the flow rate of the second gas per unit time during the successively following time period (fourth period) (see the chart (B) of
Next, a configuration of a hydrogen gas supplying apparatus 100 of according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described. This hydrogen gas supplying apparatus 100 is configured such that, when the output cycles of the hydrogen-containing gas and the non-hydrogen-containing gas are to be alternately repeated, the output amount of hydrogen is gradually increased. Hereinafter, points which are different from the exemplary embodiment of
The configuration of the hydrogen gas supplying apparatus 100 is identical with that of the exemplary embodiment of
Here, the sum of the time period from the start of the output of the hydrogen-containing gas (first gas) to the end (from the start of the first period to the end of the second period), and the time period from the start of the output of the non-hydrogen-containing gas (second gas) to the end (from the start of the third period to the end of the fourth period) is referred to as “one cycle.” In the example of
The controller 120 controls the amount of hydrogen which is output in a certain cycle, so as to be larger than that of hydrogen which is output in the immediately previous cycle. Referring to the chart (A) of
The concentration of hydrogen which is supplied to the subject by the flow rate control will be described with reference to
In the case where hydrogen is intermittently administered to the subject, the body of the subject may be accustomed by the hydrogen treatment. According to the hydrogen gas supplying apparatus 100 described above, however, the amount of hydrogen administered to the subject is gradually increased (
According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a hydrogen gas supplying apparatus 100 is configured to notify the hydrogen administration status. The features of this hydrogen gas supplying apparatus 100 that are different from those of the foregoing exemplary embodiments will be described below.
The displaying section 171 visually displays various kinds of information. The displaying section 171 may include, for example, a display device and/or an indicator lamp arranged on the housing of the hydrogen gas supplying apparatus 100. The sound emitter 172 outputs various notification sounds such as an alarm sound.
The controller 120 informs the notifying section 170 of the flow rate (corresponding to the chart (A) of
The notifying section 170 performs various notifications based on the output status of hydrogen provided by the controller 120. For example, the displaying section 171 displays an indication prompting inhalation immediately before the start of the output of hydrogen, or during the output. The displaying section 171 may display a graph of the hydrogen concentration like the chart (C) of
Similarly, the sound emitter 172 may output a beep sound or voice message prompting preparation for inhalation at the timing when the output of hydrogen is started (e.g., the timings t1, t3 in the chart (C) of
According to the configuration, the subject can know the timing when hydrogen is output, and the output status. Since the subject can know the output timing and the like, it is possible to avoid a situation such as that where the subject forgets inhalation of hydrogen. Therefore, the hydrogen gas supplying apparatus 100 can surely administer hydrogen to the subject.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a hydrogen gas supplying apparatus 100 may be configured to detect a gas in the output section 160 by a sensor, and to control the gas output based on a result of the detection. Hereinafter, the features that are different from those of the foregoing exemplary embodiments will be described.
The flow rate sensor 180 detects the flow rate of a gas flowing through the output section 160. The flow rate sensor 180 may be a sensor for measuring the flow rate of a gas, such as a differential pressure flow rate sensor, an ultrasonic flow rate sensor, or a thermal flow rate sensor. The flow rate sensor 180 sends the detected flow rate of the gas to the controller 120.
The hydrogen concentration sensor 181 detects the hydrogen concentration of the gas flowing through the output section 160. The hydrogen concentration sensor 181 may have a general configuration used for measuring the concentration of hydrogen. For example, the sensor may be a thermal conductivity concentration measuring apparatus. The hydrogen concentration sensor 181 sends the detected hydrogen concentration of the gas to the controller 120.
The controller 120 controls the gas outputs (in detail, adjusts the flow rate valves 121, 122) based on the gas flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor 180, and the hydrogen concentration detected by the hydrogen concentration sensor 181. When the detected hydrogen concentration is lower than a desired (preset) hydrogen concentration, for example, the controller 120 adjusts the flow rate valve 121 to increase the flow rate of the first gas. When the detected hydrogen concentration is higher than the desired (preset) hydrogen concentration, the controller 120 adjusts the flow rate valve 122 to increase the flow rate of the second gas. Similarly, when the detected gas flow rate is smaller than a desired (preset) gas flow rate, the controller 120 adjusts at least one of the flow rate valves 121, 122 to increase the gas flow rate (the flow rate of at least one of the first gas and the second gas).
Alternatively, the hydrogen gas supplying apparatus 100 may be configured so as to be provided with only one of the flow rate sensor 180 and the hydrogen concentration sensor 181.
As described above, in accordance with the detection result of the flow rate sensor 180, the controller 120 adjusts the flow rate of at least one of the first gas and the second gas. When the flow rate is smaller or larger as compared with a scheduled gas administration amount, therefore, the gas administration amount can be quickly adjusted.
As described above, in accordance with the detection result of the hydrogen concentration sensor 181, the controller 120 adjusts the flow rate of at least one of the first gas and the second gas to change the hydrogen concentration. When the hydrogen concentration is deviated from a scheduled hydrogen concentration, therefore, the hydrogen concentration can be quickly adjusted. Also in the configuration of
According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a hydrogen gas supplying apparatus 100 is configured to detect hydrogen concentration on a body surface of a subject or hydrogen concentration in blood or expiration of the subject, and to control (adjust) a gas output based on a result of the detection. Hereinafter, the features that are different from those of the foregoing exemplary embodiments will be described.
The hydrogen concentration sensor 200 is for estimating the amount (concentration) of hydrogen ingested into the body of the subject. The hydrogen concentration sensor 200 detects the hydrogen concentration in at least one of the expiration, blood, and the body surface. The hydrogen concentration sensor 200 may be configured to be adhered to the body surface, to obtain blood and to detect the concentration of hydrogen in the blood, and/or to obtain expiration of the subject and to detect the concentration of hydrogen in the expiration.
The hydrogen concentration which is detected by the hydrogen concentration sensor 200 is used as an index for the amount of hydrogen ingested into the body of the subject. For example, in a case where 2% hydrogen is administered and the hydrogen concentration in the expiration is 0.2%, it can be estimated that hydrogen of the amount corresponding to 1.8% is ingested into the body. The hydrogen concentration sensor 200 sends the detected hydrogen concentration to the controller 120. The hydrogen concentration sensor 200 may send the hydrogen concentration to the controller 120 via a communicating section (not shown) inside the hydrogen gas supplying apparatus 100, by means of a wireless communication or the like.
The controller 120 adjusts the flow rates of the first gas and the second gas based on the hydrogen concentration received from the hydrogen concentration sensor 200. For example, in a case where 2% hydrogen is administered and the hydrogen concentration in the expiration is 0.1%, most of the administered hydrogen is ingested into the body, and therefore it can be expected that the treatment effects may be further enhanced by administering a little more amount of hydrogen. Therefore, the controller 120 may control the flow rate of the first gas so as to be increased to raise the hydrogen concentration.
According to the exemplary embodiment described above, the amount of hydrogen which is to be output is adjusted based on the hydrogen concentration of at least one of the expiration, blood, and body surface of the subject. While checking the treatment effects on the subject, therefore, the hydrogen gas supplying apparatus 100 can supply an adequate amount of hydrogen to the subject.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention a hydrogen gas supplying apparatus 100, administration periods when hydrogen is intermittently administered, and intermission periods when the gas supply is not performed are provided. Hereinafter, the features that are different from those of the foregoing exemplary embodiments will be described.
The configuration of the hydrogen gas supplying apparatus 100 is identical with that of exemplary embodiment of
The user (mainly the doctor or the like) inputs timings when hydrogen is to be intermittently administered, through an operating section (e.g., buttons or touch panel that is disposed on the hydrogen gas supplying apparatus 100) which is not shown. For example, the user inputs intermittent administrations of hydrogen in ten-minute periods which start from 12:00, 14:00, and 16:00, respectively. The setting contents are stored in a storage section which is not shown.
Usually, the administration amount of hydrogen per day is limited. Similarly with drug administration, when hydrogen is administered a plurality of times at intervals, therefore, treatment effects are enhanced. According to the hydrogen gas supplying apparatus 100 described above, since the intermission periods are provided as described above, a plurality of hydrogen administrations can be realized, and high treatment effects can be realized.
While the present invention has been described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-234379 filed on Dec. 1, 2015, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-234379 | Dec 2015 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2016/004889 | 11/15/2016 | WO | 00 |
