Conversion of nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) to nitric oxide (NO)

• US 8,226,916 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2011
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vero Biotech LLC
• Original Assignee: GENO LLC
• Inventors: Rounbehler, David R., Fine, David H.
• Primary Examiner(s): BHAT, NINA NMN
• Application Number:
  US13/298,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20120125328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 250 Days
• Field of Search: 422/120, 422/122, 951/02, 951/05, 951/20, 95/93, 128/200.14, 423/235
• US Class Current: 423/235
• 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. A method for converting nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide comprising:

delivering a gas flow including nitrogen dioxide into a receptacle through an inlet, wherein the receptacle includes the inlet, an outlet and an antioxidant; and

fluidly communicating the gas flow through the receptacle to the outlet, such that the gas flow contacts the antioxidant, which converts the nitrogen dioxide in the gas flow to nitric oxide.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receptacle further comprises a surface-active material.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the antioxidant is included on the surface active material.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the surface-active material comprises a substrate that retains water.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the surface-active material comprises a silica gel.

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

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the antioxidant comprises ascorbic acid, alpha tocopherol or gamma tocopherol.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising diffusing nitrogen dioxide into the gas flow from a permeation cell having liquid nitrogen dioxide.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is a first receptacle and the method further includes delivering a gas flow from the outlet of the first receptacle to an inlet in the second receptacle, wherein the second receptacle includes the inlet, an outlet, and an antioxidant.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the antioxidant in the first receptacle and the antioxidant in the second receptacle are the same.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the second receptacle further comprises a surface-active material.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is a first receptacle and the method further includes delivering a gas flow from the outlet of the first receptacle to an inlet in the second receptacle, wherein the second receptacle includes the inlet, an outlet, and activated alumina.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising supplying oxygen into the gas flow prior to delivering the gas flow including nitrogen dioxide into the receptacle through the inlet.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering the nitric oxide to a mammal.