Conversion of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) to nitric oxide (NO)

• US 10,124,142 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2016
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vero Biotech LLC
• Original Assignee: Vero Biotech LLC
• Inventors: Rounbehler, David P., Fine, David H.
• Primary Examiner(s): BHAT, NINA NMN
• Application Number:
  US15/385,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20170197058A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 422120, 422122, 95105, 95120, 95102, 12820014, 12820312
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 7/04 Devices for anaesthetising animals by gases or vapours; Inhaling devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/00 Inhalators drug delivery in endotracheal tubes A61M16/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/10 Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/104 specially adapted for anaesthetics A61M16/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/12 by mixing different gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/102 Measuring a parameter of the content of the delivered gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0275 Nitric oxide [NO]
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 11/00 Drugs for disorders of the respiratory system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 11/06 Antiasthmatics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 11/08 Bronchodilators
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 17/00 Drugs for dermatological disorders
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/04 Antibacterial agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/00 Drugs for disorders of the cardiovascular system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/10 for treating ischaemic or atherosclerotic diseases, e.g. antianginal drugs, coronary vasodilators, drugs for myocardial infarction, retinopathy, cerebrovascula insufficiency, renal arteriosclerosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/12 Antihypertensives
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 21/24 Nitric oxide (NO) C01B21/203 takes precedence

Abstract

Inhalation of low levels of nitric oxide can rapidly and safely decrease pulmonary hypertension in mammals. A nitric oxide delivery system that converts nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide employs a surface-active material, such as silica gel, coated with an aqueous solution of antioxidant, such as ascorbic acid.

Claims

1. A method of delivering nitric oxide to a human comprising converting nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide by fluidly communicating a gas flow including nitrogen dioxide to a receptacle including an inlet, an outlet, and a surface-active material coated with an aqueous solution of an antioxidant, wherein the antioxidant includes ascorbic acid, alpha tocopherol or gamma tocopherol, wherein the inlet is configured to receive the gas flow and fluidly communicate the gas flow to the outlet through the surface-active material such that nitrogen dioxide in the gas flow is converted to nitric oxide.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the surface-active material is saturated with the aqueous solution of the antioxidant.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the surface-active material comprises a substrate that retains water.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the surface-active material comprises a silica gel.

5. The method of claim 4 where the silica gel is 35 to 70 sized mesh.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the receptacle comprises a cartridge.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the antioxidant comprises ascorbic acid.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the receptacle is at ambient temperature.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the surface-active material is prepared using a solution of ascorbic acid in water.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the surface-active material is prepared using a 20% solution of ascorbic acid in water.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the surface-active material is prepared using a 25% solution of ascorbic acid in water.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the surface-active material is prepared using a 30% solution of ascorbic acid in water.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the surface-active material is prepared by soaking the surface-active material in a solution of ascorbic acid in water and air drying the surface-active material before inserting the surface-active material into the receptacle.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the surface-active material is prepared by soaking the surface-active material in a solution of ascorbic acid in water and drying the surface-active material with a gas before inserting the surface-active material into the receptacle.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the antioxidant comprises alpha tocopherol or gamma tocopherol.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the receptacle includes screen and glass wool adjacent to both the inlet and the outlet.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the screen and glass wool is soaked in the aqueous solution of antioxidant before being inserted in the receptacle.