Nitric oxide delivery devices
An example of a nitric oxide delivery device includes a medium, a working electrode in contact with the medium, and a reference/counter electrode in contact with the medium and electrically isolated from the working electrode. The medium includes a source of nitrite ions and a Cu(II)-ligand complex. A nitric oxide permeable material separates the medium from an external environment that is to contain blood.
1. A nitric oxide delivery device, comprising:
an aqueous solution including a source of nitrite ions and a Cu(II)-ligand complex;
a working electrode in contact with the aqueous solution;
a reference/counter electrode in contact with the aqueous solution and electrically isolated from the working electrode; and
a housing comprising a nitric oxide permeable material, and surrounding the aqueous solution, the working electrode, and the reference/counter electrode, the housing separating the aqueous solution from an external environment, the external environment to contain blood.
2. The nitric oxide delivery device as defined in claim 1 wherein the delivery device is a catheter and the nitric oxide permeable material is a lumen dedicated to housing the aqueous solution, the working electrode, and the reference/counter electrode.
3. The nitric oxide delivery device as defined in claim 2 , further comprising a seal operatively attached to the lumen.
4. The nitric oxide delivery device as defined in claim 1 wherein the nitric oxide permeable material is silicone rubber.
5. The nitric oxide delivery device as defined in claim 1 wherein the Cu(II)-ligand complex is selected from the group consisting of Cu(II)-tri(2-pyridylmethyl)amine, Cu(II)-tri(2-dimethylamino)ethyl]amine, Cu(II)-tri(2-pyridylmethyl)phosphine, and combinations thereof.
6. The nitric oxide delivery device as defined in claim 1 wherein the source of nitrite ions in the aqueous solution is any water soluble, inorganic nitrite salt.
7. The nitric oxide delivery device as defined in claim 1 , further comprising:
a conductive lead electrically connected to the working electrode; and
a second conductive lead electrically connected to the reference/counter electrode.
8. The nitric oxide delivery device as defined in claim 7 wherein:
the conductive lead has a polymer coating thereon;
another polymer coating is established on both i) the second conductive lead such that an end of the second conductive lead remains exposed, and ii) an area of the reference/counter electrode that is adjacent to the working electrode; and
another area of the reference/counter electrode remains exposed.
9. The nitric oxide delivery device as defined in claim 1 wherein the nitric oxide permeable material has a surface that is modified to detect surface charge or pH.
10. The nitric oxide delivery device as defined in claim 9 , further comprising:
an external reference electrode operatively positioned outside of the nitric oxide permeable material; and
a high impedance voltmeter operatively connected to the reference/counter electrode and the external reference electrode to detect a surface charge change or a pH change occurring at the modified surface.