How are noble gases used in medicine?

Noble gases are used in medicine for imaging, anaesthesia, and radiation therapy.

Noble gases, particularly helium and xenon, have found significant applications in the field of medicine. Helium, due to its low density, is used in respiratory therapies to help patients with severe asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is mixed with oxygen to create a gas mixture known as Heliox. This mixture is easier to breathe than regular air, reducing the effort required to breathe and improving the delivery of oxygen to the lungs.

Xenon, on the other hand, is used as an anaesthetic. It is a fast-acting and safe anaesthetic, with patients recovering quickly after its use. Xenon does not cause nausea or vomiting, common side effects of other anaesthetics, making it a preferred choice in many surgical procedures. It is also used in imaging. Xenon-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scanning is a diagnostic procedure where xenon gas is used to improve the visualisation of the brain's white matter.

Argon, another noble gas, is used in cryoablation, a procedure used to destroy cancer cells. In this procedure, argon gas is used to cool a probe to extremely low temperatures, which is then used to freeze and destroy the cancerous tissue.

Radon, despite being a radioactive noble gas, has been used in the past for radiation therapy. However, due to its potential health risks, its use is now limited and highly regulated.

In summary, noble gases, due to their unique properties, have found a variety of uses in the medical field. From aiding in breathing to acting as an anaesthetic, and even in the treatment of cancer, these gases play a crucial role in modern medicine.