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

• US 20060048779A1
• Filed: 08/18/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vero Biotech LLC
• Original Assignee: GENO LLC
• Inventors: Fine, David H., Rounbehler, David R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,560,076 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/203.120
• 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. An apparatus for converting nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide comprising a receptacle including an inlet, an outlet, and a surface-active material coated with an aqueous solution of an antioxidant, wherein the inlet is configured to receive a 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 apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surface-active material is saturated with the aqueous solution of the antioxidant.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

13. The apparatus 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 apparatus 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 apparatus of claim 1 wherein the antioxidant comprises alpha tocopherol or gamma tocopherol.

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

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

18. An apparatus for generating a therapeutic gas including nitric oxide for use in delivering the therapeutic gas to a mammal comprising:

a permeation cell having liquid nitrogen dioxide and capable of diffusing gaseous nitrogen dioxide into an air flow; and

a receptacle including an inlet, an outlet, and a surface-active material coated with an aqueous solution of an antioxidant, wherein the inlet is configured to receive the air flow from the permeation cell and fluidly communicate the air flow to the outlet through the surface-active material to convert the gaseous nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide at ambient temperature.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the surface-active material is saturated with the aqueous solution of the antioxidant.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the surface-active material comprises a substrate that retains water.

21. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the surface-active material comprises a silica gel.

22. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising an air pump capable of generating an air flow;

wherein the permeation cell is configured to receive the air flow generated by the air pump.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the air pump is portable.

24. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising an oxygen-enrichment device capable of supplying oxygen in an air flow;

wherein the permeation cell is configured to received the air flow enriched by the oxygen-enrichment device.

25. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the receptacle comprises a cartridge.

26. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the antioxidant comprises ascorbic acid.

27. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the antioxidant comprises alpha tocopherol or gamma tocopherol.

28. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the receptacle is a first receptacle, the apparatus further comprising a second receptacle including a second inlet, a second outlet, and a second surface-active material coated with an aqueous solution of an antioxidant, wherein the second inlet is configured to receive the air flow from the first receptacle and fluidly communicate the air flow to the second outlet through the second surface-active material to convert the gaseous nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide at ambient temperature.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 further comprising a flexible bag operable to inflate and deflate as the mammal breathes, and

wherein the second receptacle is positioned between the flexible bag and a point at which the air flow having the nitric oxide is delivered to the mammal.

30. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the receptacle is a first receptacle, the apparatus further comprising a second receptacle including a second inlet, a second outlet, and activated alumina, wherein the second inlet is configured to receive the air flow from the first receptacle and fluidly communicate the air flow to the second outlet through the activated alumina to trap the gaseous nitrogen dioxide at ambient temperature.