Medical cryogenic gases

Cryogenic gases are liquid-phase gases cooled at very low temperatures. The most common in the health sector are medical liquid oxygen and medical nitrous oxide, considered medicines, and medical liquid nitrogen, classified as a health product.

Medical liquid oxygen is primarily dispensed in inhalators for oxygen therapy and aerosol therapy treatments. It is also used for anaesthesia, just like medical liquid nitrous oxide.

In regards to medical liquid nitrogen, two of the most common applications are cryotherapy and cryopreservation.

All cryogenic gases for medical applications are supplied in cryogenic containers or cryogenic tanks for large quantities.

Applications of medical cryogenic gases

Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy consists of applying cold on the organism to treat different conditions. Its effects are vasoconstriction, analgesia and anaesthesia. It is an anti-inflammatory treatment that works by applying gases such as liquid nitrogen or helium.

This therapy is helpful in several treatments:

• In acute ankle sprains (reduces the swelling process).
• In the digestive system as an antiemetic.
• In vasculitis such as headaches, migraines, etc.
• To treat sunstrokes and heat strokes.
• To reduce fever.
• To treat lumps in the skin or other organs. Also used in cryosurgery.

Cryopreservation

Cryopreservation consists of freezing cells and tissues at very low temperatures to reduce their vital functions and keep them alive for extended periods.

At low temperatures, that is between -80ºC and -196ºC, all biological activity comes to a standstill. Thus, liquid nitrogen is useful to preserve biological samples, vital organs for transplants, and cells such as gametes or embryos.

OXIGEN salud supplies liquid nitrogen for cryotherapy in containers that meet the client’s needs, always ensuring the quality of its products.

Cryologistics

Cryogenic medical gases enable the transport of biological samples, organs and tissues while maintaining their quality and properties. Thanks to its low temperatures, cryologistics is the best way to transport these samples with optimal preservation conditions to their destination.