Conversion of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) to Nitric Oxide (NO)

• US 20110168174A1
• Filed: 03/25/2011
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vero Biotech LLC
• Original Assignee: GENO LLC
• Inventors: Rounbehler, David P., Fine, David, Vasquez, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 8,187,544 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/202.26
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 7/04 Devices for anaesthetising animals by gases or vapours; Inhaling devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 33/00 Medicinal preparations containing inorganic active ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/009 Removing used or expired gases or anaesthetic vapours filtering, sterilising or disinfecting the exhaust air in drainage systems A61M1/784; bacterial filters in the expiratory path A61M16/1065
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/104 specially adapted for anaesthetics A61M16/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1055 bacterial
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1075 by influencing the temperature A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/12 by mixing different gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• 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 9/08 Vasodilators for multiple indications
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/12 Antihypertensives
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 21/24 Nitric oxide (NO) C01B21/203 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 21/32 Apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/416 Systems G01N27/27 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/179228 : Both nitrogen oxide and dioxide

Abstract

Various systems, devices, NO₂ absorbents, NO₂ scavengers and NO₂ recuperator for generating nitric oxide are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, an apparatus for converting nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide can include a receptacle including an inlet, an outlet, a surface-active material coated with an aqueous solution of ascorbic acid and an absorbent wherein the inlet is configured to receive a gas flow and fluidly communicate the gas flow to the outlet through the surface-active material and the absorbent such that nitrogen dioxide in the gas flow is converted to nitric oxide.

Claims

1. An apparatus for converting nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide comprising

a receptacle including an inlet, an outlet, a surface-active material coated with an aqueous solution of ascorbic acid and an absorbent,

wherein the inlet is configured to receive a gas flow and fluidly communicate the gas flow to the outlet through the surface-active material and the absorbent such that nitrogen dioxide in the gas flow is converted to nitric oxide.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the absorbent is silica gel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the absorbent is activated alumina.

4. A method of providing a therapeutic amount of nitric oxide to a mammal comprising:

diffusing nitrogen dioxide into a gas flow;

exposing the nitrogen dioxide to a surface-active material coated with ascorbic acid and an asorbent to eliminate the by-products of ascorbic acid oxidation; and

transporting the nitric oxide in a therapeutic amount to a mammal.

5. A system of delivering a therapeutic amount of nitric oxide to a mammal comprising

a gas source of nitric oxide;

and a NO₂ scavenger selected from the group consisting of proline and diphenylamine.

6. A recuperator for converting nitrogen dioxide into nitric oxide comprising:

an exit shell including an outlet;

an inside shell wherein the inside shell includes perforated inner and outer tubes with fixed annulus;

a surface-active material coated with an aqueous solution of ascorbic acid, an absorbent and

a top cap including an inlet 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.

7. The recuperator of claim 6, further comprising an annular ring around the top cap.

8. A system for delivering nitric oxide to a patient, comprising:

a gas source of nitrogen dioxide, dinitrogen tetraoxide, or nitric oxide;

a first device having an inlet, an outlet, and a porous solid matrix positioned between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the porous solid matrix is coated with an aqueous solution of an antioxidant, and wherein the inlet is configured to receive a gas flow from the source and fluidly communicate the gas flow to the outlet through the porous solid matrix to convert nitrogen dioxide in the gas flow into nitric oxide; and

a recuperator coupled to the outlet of the first device, the recuperator converting nitrogen dioxide into nitric oxide prior to delivery to the patient.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the recuperator has a flow resistance of less than 3 cm of water pressure at a flow of 60 L/minute.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the recuperator has a flow resistance of less than 1 cm water at 15 L/min.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the recuperator is operated at atmospheric pressure.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the recuperator has an oxygen concentration of in the range of 21 to 100%.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the recuperator has a humidity of dry to 99% (non condensing).

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the recuperator is thermally insulated.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the recuperator is coupled to the outlet of a first device through a humidified line.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the humidified line is heated.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the humidified line is heated to about 35°

C.

18. The system of claim 8, wherein the recuperator is coupled to a NO/NO₂ gas analyzer.

19. The system of claim 8, wherein the recuperator further comprises a particle filter.

20. A method of sampling NO and NO₂ gas in a NO delivery system comprising

obtaining a sample of gas;

diluting the sample of gas with air; and

measuring the amount of NO and NO₂ gas with a gas analyzer.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the sample of gas is diluted by 50%.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the sample of gas is diluted by 33%.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the sample of gas is diluted with air from the hospital room.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the sample of gas is diluted with air from the wall.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the sample of gas is diluted with oxygen.