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

• US 7,914,743 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2009
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Duane
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jones; Christopher P
• Application Number:
  US12/361,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20090314289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 951/28, 951/29, 422/120, 422/129, 422/177, 424/718, 128/203.12, 128/205.27, 73/232, 423/235, 423/239.1, 423/400, 423/405
• US Class Current: 422/120
• 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;

wherein the apparatus further comprises a NO₂ scavenger selected from the group consisting of proline and diphenylamine.

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 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 and an adsorbent;

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; and

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

5. The recuperator of claim 4, further comprising an annular ring around the top cap.

6. The recuperator of claim 4, wherein the recuperator has a flow resistance of less than 3 cm of water pressure at a flow of 60 L/minute.

7. The recuperator of claim 4, wherein the recuperator has a flow resistance of less than 1 cm water at 15 L/min.

8. The recuperator of claim 4, wherein the recuperator is operated at atmospheric pressure.

9. The recuperator of claim 4, wherein the recuperator has an oxygen concentration of in the range of 21 to 100%.

10. The recuperator of claim 4, wherein the recuperator has a humidity of dry to 99% (non condensing).

11. The recuperator of claim 4, wherein the recuperator is thermally insulated.

12. The recuperator of claim 4, wherein the recuperator is coupled to the outlet of a first device through a humidified line.

13. The recuperator of claim 12, wherein the humidified line is heated.

14. The recuperator of claim 13, wherein the humidified line is heated to about 35°

C.

15. The recuperator of claim 4, wherein the recuperator is coupled to a NO/NO₂ gas analyzer.

16. The recuperator of claim 4, wherein the recuperator further comprises a particle filter.