Nitric oxide reactor and distributor apparatus and method

• US 9,717,875 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2013
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SYK Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: SYK Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Miller, J. W. Randolph, Jones, Christie M.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHILIPS, BRADLEY H
• Application Number:
  US13/870,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20130298906A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 12820718, 12820023
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• 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 16/0672 Nasal cannula assemblies for oxygen therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0688 by means of an adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/10 Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0007 introduced into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0275 Nitric oxide [NO]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/06 Packaging for specific medical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/404 Nitrogen oxides other than dinitrogen oxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/22 by diffusion manufacturing semi-permeable membranes B01D67/00; form, structure or properties of semi-permeable membranes B01D69/00; material for semi-permeable membranes B01D71/00
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 21/24 Nitric oxide (NO) C01B21/203 takes precedence

Abstract

A reaction and distribution system may include a distributor securable near or in a path correspond to a breathing passage such as the nostrils or the mouth of a user for delivering nitric oxide therapy thereto. The distributor may contain an internal reactor for creating the nitric oxide from reactants. Alternative embodiments may rely on a line delivering nitric oxide to the distributor from a remote generator such as a canister carried in a pocket or placed/at the bedside of a user.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a distributor configured to deliver a continuing quantity of nitric oxide through at least two outlets;

a reactor containing a first reactant, a second reactant, a separator between the first and second reactants;

a molecular sieve between the first and second reactants and the distributor, wherein the first reactant and the second reactant are contained within the molecular sieve; and

the distributor, the reactor, and the molecular sieve are contained within a monolithic structure together form the apparatus, which is monolithic.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second reactant is contained within the separator and the separator is contained within the first reactant.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the monolithic structure is flexible.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an adhesive strip is adapted for securing the monolithic structure to an upper lip of a user and is attached to a side of the distributor.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first reactant comprises at least one composition of nitrogen selected from the group consisting of potassium nitrite and sodium nitrite and the second reactant comprises at least two moderate acids selected from the group consisting of citric acid, ascorbic acid, and acetic acid.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a distributor configured to deliver a concentration of nitric oxide directly into a nostril of a user;

a reactor containing a first reactant, a second reactant, and a separator between the first and second reactants;

a molecular sieve between the first and second reactants and the distributor, wherein the molecular sieve is in contact with at least one of the first or second reactants, wherein the first reactant and the second reactant are contained within the molecular sieve; and

the distributor, the reactor, and the molecular sieve together form the apparatus, which is monolithic structure.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the second reactant is contained within the separator and the separator is contained within the first reactant.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the entire monolithic structure is sized to fit between an upper lip and the nostril of a user.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the apparatus is flexible.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the apparatus is designed to provide a single dose of nitric oxide.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first reactant comprises at least one composition of nitrogen selected from the group consisting of potassium nitrite and sodium nitrite and the second reactant comprises at least two moderate acids selected from the group consisting of citric acid, ascorbic acid, and acetic acid.

12. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the concentration of nitric oxide delivered from the distributor to the user is from about one thousand parts per million to about ten thousand parts per million of nitric oxide.

13. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first reactant is a composition of nitrogen and the second reactant is a moderate acid.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a distributor configured to deliver a concentration of nitric oxide through at least two outlets;

a reactor containing a first reactant, a second reactant, and a separator between the first and second reactants;

a molecular sieve between the first and second reactants and the distributor and in contact with one of the first or second reactants; and

the distributor, the reactor, and the molecular sieve together form the apparatus, which is monolithic structure.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first reactant comprises at least one composition of nitrogen selected from the group consisting of potassium nitrite and sodium nitrite and the second reactant comprises at least two moderate acids selected from the group consisting of citric acid, ascorbic acid, and acetic acid.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is designed to provide a single dose of the concentration of nitric oxide and is disposable.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the concentration of nitric oxide delivered from the distributor is from about one thousand parts per million to about ten thousand parts per million.