Nitric oxide generation, dilution, and topical application apparatus and method

• US 8,685,467 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2011
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GeNOsys, Inc., SYK Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: GeNOsys, Inc.
• Inventors: Miller, J. W. Randolph, Miller, John J., Fairbanks, Stephen H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wax, Robert A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tcherkasskaya, Olga V
• Application Number:
  US13/197,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20130022691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 424/718
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 33/00 Medicinal preparations containing inorganic active ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0014 Skin, i.e. galenical aspects of topical compositions non-active ingredients are additionally classified in A61K47/00; A61K9/0009, A61K9/0021, A61K9/7015, A61K9/7023 take precedence; cosmetic preparations A61K8/00, A61Q; preparations for wound dressings or bandages A61L26/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0005 for pharmaceuticals, biologicals or living parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/20 Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/26 Accessories or devices or components used for biocidal treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/04 Centrally acting analgesics, e.g. opioids
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/00 Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
• 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 controlled delivery of nitric oxide. A pump draws air through an activated carbon filter and into a reaction chamber. The generation of nitric oxide occurs in the reaction chamber. A second pump draws the gas in the reaction chamber through a calcium hydroxide filter and delivers the nitric oxide through an orifice, or aperture, that controls the flow of nitric oxide delivered. The nitric oxide is filtered through a calcium hydroxide filter just prior to being made available for various nitric oxide therapies. Topical applications that provide a nitric oxide therapy to a surface are also provided.

Claims

1. A nitric oxide gas generator, comprising:

a first pump in fluid communication with a first filter and an inlet of a reaction chamber wherein the first pump is capable of pressurizing the reaction chamber;

the reaction chamber having at least the inlet and an outlet and containing a first reactant, a second reactant, and a third reactant that when combined and heated are capable of producing a nitric oxide gas;

a heating element connected to the reaction chamber wherein the heating element is capable of heating the reaction chamber in a manner sufficient to heat the reactants and initiate the production of the nitric oxide gas;

the outlet in fluid communication with the reaction chamber, the atmosphere outside the apparatus and a second pump;

the second pump in fluid communication with a second filter and an aperture wherein the second pump is capable of drawing the nitric oxide gas out of the reaction chamber and pumping the nitric oxide gas through the aperture; and

the aperture in fluid communication with a delivery line.

2. The nitric oxide generator of claim 1, wherein the first reactant is approximately 2.3 g of calcined chromium oxide (Cr2O3), the second reactant is approximately 1.6 g of sodium nitrite (NaNO2), and the third reactant is approximately 0.65 g of sodium nitrate (NaNO3).

3. The nitric oxide generator of claim 2, wherein the reactants are in solution.

4. The nitric oxide generator of claim 1, wherein the first filter is an activated carbon filter and the second filter is a calcium hydroxide filter.

5. The nitric oxide generator of claim 1, further comprising:

a third filter in fluid communication with the delivery line.

6. The nitric oxide generator of claim 1, wherein the reaction chamber further comprises fins that are connected to an outside wall of the reaction chamber and to the heating element such that the fins are capable of dissipating heat from the reaction chamber.

7. The nitric oxide generator of claim 6, wherein the fins are connected to the outside wall of the reaction chamber and to a heat cartridge sleeve.

8. A nitric oxide gas generator, comprising:

a first pump in fluid communication with an activated carbon filter and an inlet of a reaction chamber wherein the first pump is capable of pressurizing the reaction chamber;

the reaction chamber having at least the inlet and an outlet and containing reactants comprising 51% w/w of calcine chromium oxide (Cr2O3), 34.7% w/w of sodium nitrite (NaNO2), and 14.4% of sodium nitrate (NaNO3) such that when combined and heated are capable of producing a nitric oxide gas;

the reaction chamber further comprises fins that are connected to an outside wall of the reaction chamber and to a heating element such that the fins are capable of dissipating heat from the reaction chamber;

the heating element connected to the reaction chamber such that the heating element is capable of heating the reaction chamber in a manner sufficient to heat the reactants and initiate the production of the nitric oxide gas;

the outlet in fluid communication with the reaction chamber, the atmosphere outside the apparatus and a second pump;

the second pump in fluid communication with a calcium hydroxide filter and an aperture wherein the second pump is capable of drawing the nitric oxide gas out of the reaction chamber and pumping the nitric oxide gas through the aperture; and

the aperture in fluid communication with a delivery line.