Device for administration of nitric oxide to horses spontaneously breathing

• US 6,920,876 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2002
• Issued: 07/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Beyond Air Ltd. (Beyond Air, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pulmonox Technologies Corp.
• Inventors: Fairbanks, Stephen H., Miller, Christopher, Lee, Robert E., Perry, Bryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, NIHIR B
• Application Number:
  US10/315,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20030150457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.24, 128/203.12, 128/205.22, 128/207.14, 128/205.23, 128/205.24
• US Class Current: 128/204.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0666 Nasal cannulas or tubing devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0677 Gas-saving devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0024 with an on-off output signal, e.g. from a switch
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0275 Nitric oxide [NO]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a nitric gas dispenser for mammals on the run. The dispenser has a housing that contains a valve mechanism. The valve mechanism is interconnected between a nitric gas dispersal component that provides nitric gas at a desired pressure and a gas delivery system that provides the nitric gas at the desired pressure to the mammal. The valve mechanism controls the flow of the nitric gas between the nitric gas dispersal component and the gas delivery system. The dispenser also has a pressure sensor that is positioned along the gas delivery system and determines when the mammal is taking a breadth. If the pressure sensor determines the mammal is taking a breadth, the pressure sensor transmits a breadth signal to a microprocessor. The microprocessor then determines if the mammal is within a prescribed time frame for the mammal to be administered nitric gas. If the microprocessor determine the mammal is within the prescribed time frame, the microprocessor transmits an open signal to the valve mechanism to release a predetermined amount of nitric oxide gas to the mammal.

Claims

1. A nitric oxide gas dispenser for mammals, comprising:

a housing containing a valve mechanism that is interconnected between a nitric oxide gas dispersal component that provides nitric oxide gas at a desired pressure and a gas delivery system transmits the nitric gas directly into, without premixing with other gases, and at the desired pressure to the mammal;

the valve mechanism controls the flow of the nitric oxide gas between the nitric oxide gas dispersal component and the gas delivery system;

a pressure sensor is positioned along the gas delivery system and determines when the mammal is taking a breath;

if the pressure sensor determines the mammal is taking a breath, the pressure sensor transmits a breath signal to a microprocessor, the microprocessor then determines if the mammal is within a prescribed time frame for the mammal to be administered nitric oxide gas;

if the microprocessor determine the mammal is within the proscribed time frame, the microprocessor transmits an open signal to the valve mechanism to release a predetermined amount of nitric oxide gas directly, without pre-mixing with other gases, into the mammal.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the nitric oxide gas is transmitted into the nostril of the mammal.

3. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the prescribed time frame is determined by an operator entering parameters to the microprocessor.

4. The dispenser of claim 3 wherein the housing has a key pad that allows the operator to enter parameter to the microprocessor.

5. The dispenser of claim 3 wherein the parameters are start delay, pulse time, pulse delay, and retrigger lock.