Nitric Oxide Delivery System
Methods and systems of using liquid nitrogen dioxide (N 2 O 4 ) with a ventilator can generate and deliver nitric oxide to a patient by means of a ventilator.
1 . A system for delivering a therapeutic amount of nitric oxide comprising:
a ventilator delivering a gas mixture of oxygen and/or air;
a liquid reservoir containing dinitrogen tetroxide;
a tube from the reservoir configured to connect to the gas supply being delivered to the patient;
a first receptacle coupled to the tube; wherein the receptacle comprises a surface-activated material saturated with an aqueous solution of an antioxidant and
a patient interface coupled to the first receptacle, wherein the first receptacle converts nitrogen dioxide into nitric oxide prior to reaching the patient interface.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the source of air includes nitrogen, oxygen-enriched air, or substantially pure oxygen.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir contains compressed nitrogen dioxide with or without a diluent gas.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle comprises a cartridge.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the surface-activated material is a silica gel, activated charcoal, activated carbon, activated alumina or calcium sulfate.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the antioxidant is ascorbic acid, alpha tocopherol, or gamma tocopherol.
7 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a second receptacle wherein the second receptacle comprises a surface-activated material saturated with an aqueous solution of an antioxidant.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the patient interface is a mouth piece, face mask, or fully-sealed face mask, or the interface is a tracheal intubator.
9 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a heating element associated with the reservoir.
10 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a valve coupled to the reservoir and the tube.
11 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a gas mixer in communication with the reservoir and the source of air.
12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the tube has a bore size of about 25 microns or less.
13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the tube has a bore size of 10 microns or less.
14 . A system for delivering a therapeutic amount of nitric oxide comprising:
a ventilator delivering a gas mixture of oxygen and/or air;
a gas bottle containing NO 2 in a diluent gas;
a flow regulator and a valve configured to be connected to the gas bottle;
a first receptacle; wherein the receptacle comprises a surface-activated material saturated with an aqueous solution of an antioxidant and
a patient interface coupled to the first receptacle, wherein the first receptacle converts nitrogen dioxide into nitric oxide prior to reaching the patient interface.
15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the gas bottle contains 800 to 2000 ppm of NO 2 .
16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the receptacle comprises a cartridge.
17 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the surface-activated material is a silica gel, activated charcoal, activated carbon, activated alumina or calcium sulfate.
18 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the antioxidant is ascorbic acid, alpha tocopherol, or gamma tocopherol.
19 . The system of claim 14 , further comprising a second receptacle wherein the second receptacle comprises a surface-activated material saturated with an aqueous solution of an antioxidant.
20 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the patient interface is a mouth piece, face mask, or fully-sealed face mask, or the patient interface is a tracheal intubator.
21 . A method of providing a therapeutic amount of nitric oxide to a mammal comprising:
injecting nitrogen dioxide into the air/oxygen gas stream leaving the ventilator;
exposing the nitrogen dioxide to a surface-active material coated with an antioxidant to convert the gaseous nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide at ambient temperature; and
transporting the nitric oxide in a therapeutic amount to a mammal.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the nitrogen dioxide is generated from liquid nitrogen dioxide contained within a reservoir.
23 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the reservoir is coupled to a tube wherein tube has a bore size of about 25 microns or less.
24 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising a valve coupled to the reservoir and the tube.
25 . The method of claim 21 , wherein injecting nitrogen dioxide into the air/oxygen gas stream includes providing a predetermined dose of nitrogen dioxide at a particular temperature.
26 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising predetermining the concentration of nitrogen dioxide in the air/oxygen gas stream by controlling the flow rate of the air/oxygen gas stream.
27 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising mixing nitrogen dioxide and the air/oxygen gas before exposing the nitrogen dioxide to a surface-active material.
28 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the surface-activated material is a silica gel, activated charcoal, activated carbon, activated alumina or calcium sulfate.
29 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the antioxidant is ascorbic acid, alpha tocopherol, or gamma tocopherol.
30 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising contacting the nitric oxide with a second surface-active material coated with an antioxidant immediately prior to inhalation by the mammal.
31 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the nitrogen dioxide is introduced from a pressurized gas bottle containing nitrogen dioxide in a diluent gas.