PORTABLE, NITRIC OXIDE GENERATOR

• US 20100003349A1
• Filed: 04/06/2009
• Published: 01/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SYK Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: SYK Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Merrell, Keith L., Moon, William, Miller, J. W. Randolph
• Granted Patent: US 9,138,707 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/718
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 33/00 Medicinal preparations containing inorganic active ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 11/00 Drugs for disorders of the respiratory system
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00135 Electric resistance heaters
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 7/00 Apparatus for generating gases production of inert gas mixtures B01J19/14; for generating specific gases, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. C01B, C10J ; in "air bags" on vehicles B60R21/26; for starter gas F02C7/26; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure F42B3/04
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 21/24 Nitric oxide (NO) C01B21/203 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus for portable delivery of nitric oxide without the need for pressurized tanks, power supplies, or other devices provides a single therapy session by triggering a heater to heat a reaction chamber. A piercing assembly may trigger to open sealed containers, such as bags, of liquid water or salt water in order to activate the heaters. Upon addition of liquid such as water or salt water to a chemically reactive heating element, heat is generated to activate the chemicals generating nitric oxide within a sealed reactor. Upon triggering, liquid containers are unsealed, the liquid drains down to initiate reaction of the heating chemicals, and the heat begins to penetrate the reactor. The reactor, in turn, heats its contents, which react to form nitric oxide expelled by the reactor to a line feeding a cannula for therapy.

Claims

1. An apparatus generating nitric oxide, the apparatus comprising:

a heat source;

a vessel containing reactants to form nitric oxide upon exposure to heat from the heat source;

the reactants configured at least one of solid tablets and a mixture of granules, positioned within the vessel and in thermal communication with the heat source to receive heat therefrom;

the mixture further consisting substantially of non-deliquescent reactants forming nitric oxide in response to heat from the heat source; and

an outlet conducting the nitric oxide away from the heat source to prohibit the nitric oxide from mixing and reacting with ambient air after exiting the vessel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mixture further comprises granules of reactants.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the granules are sized and the heat source is controlled to melt, yet avoid vaporizing, at least one of the reactants.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat source is controlled to melt at least one of the reactants, and to avoid vaporizing any of the reactants.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reactants consist substantially of:

a metal oxide,

a non-deliquescent nitrite compound; and

a nitrate compound.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-deliquescent nitrite compound comprises sodium nitrite and the nitrate compound comprises potassium nitrate.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the metal oxide consists essentially of chromic oxide, the nitrate compound consists essentially of potassium nitrate, and the nitrite consists essentially of sodium nitrite.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pump is sized to maintain substantially a vacuum in the vessel exclusive of the flow of nitric oxide theretoward within the vessel.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pump is sized and operated to maintain a pressure in the vessel at a value of from about minus 14 and about minus 5 PSI gauge.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pump is sized and operated to maintain a pressure in the vessel of less than about 5 PSI absolute.

11. A method of generating nitric oxide, the method comprising:

providing a mixture of reactants comprising a nitrate compound and a nitrite compound in a vessel;

heating the reactants to initiate a reaction therebetween generating nitric oxide gas;

evacuating the nitric oxide gas away from the reactor in a closed conduit to inhibit further heating thereof and to resist further reaction of the nitric oxide;

cooling the nitric oxide; and

delivering the nitric oxide at substantially ambient conditions to a user to provide a therapeutically safe concentration of nitric oxide.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising granulating the reactants.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising sizing the granules to melt and react, without vaporizing, at least one of the reactants.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising controlling the heat source to control a rate of generation of the nitric oxide.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the reactants consist essentially of:

a non-deliquescent nitrite compound;

a nitrate compound; and

a metal oxide.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the non-deliquescent nitrite compound is sodium nitrite, the nitrate compound is potassium nitrate, and the metal oxide is chromic oxide.

17. A method comprising:

providing a mixture of reactants consisting essentially of potassium nitrate, sodium nitrite, and chromic oxide, the chromic oxide being calcined to remove substantially all water bonded thereto;

placing the reactants in a vessel;

substantially evacuating the vessel of moisture;

heating the reactants to a temperature selected to initiate reaction thereof;

generating nitric oxide;

drawing the nitric oxide from the vessel at negative gauge pressure to substantially preclude further heating and limit further reaction of the nitric oxide;

cooling the nitric oxide;

mixing the nitric oxide with a diluent gas to form a mixture breathable by a subject; and

delivering the breathable mixture, regulated to substantially ambient temperature and pressure to provide a therapeutically safe and effective concentration of nitric oxide to the subject.