Conversion of nitrogen dioxide (NO
View Patent ↗A nitric oxide delivery system, which includes a gas bottle having nitrogen dioxide in air, converts nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide and employs a surface-active material, such as silica gel, coated with an aqueous solution of antioxidant, such as ascorbic acid. A nitric oxide delivery system may be used to generate therapeutic gas including nitric oxide for use in delivering the therapeutic gas to a mammal.
1. A method for delivering a therapeutic gas including nitric oxide to a mammal comprising:
introducing an air flow into a delivery system, wherein the air flow has a flow rate of between 5 and 60 liters per minute;
releasing a gas including nitrogen dioxide from a gas source via a pressure regulator;
diffusing the gas including nitrogen dioxide into the air flow, thereby forming an air flow including nitrogen dioxide;
introducing the air flow including nitrogen dioxide into a receptacle including an inlet, an outlet and an antioxidant;
converting the nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide gas by contacting the nitrogen dioxide with the antioxidant; and
delivering the nitric oxide gas to the mammal in the air flow.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the air flow has a flow rate of 5 liters per minute.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pressure regulator diffuses the gas including nitrogen dioxide into the air flow.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pressure regulator includes a diffusion cell.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the diffusion cell is made of stainless steel or plastic.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the diffusion cell is coupled to at least one needle from which the gas including nitrogen dioxide is released.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein each needle is connected to a permeation tube.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pressure regulator includes a permeation tube.
9. A method for delivering a therapeutic gas including nitric oxide to a mammal comprising:
introducing an air flow into a delivery system, wherein the air flow has a flow rate of between 5 and 60 liters per minute;
releasing a gas including nitrogen dioxide from a gas source via a diffusion cell or a permeation tube;
diffusing the gas including nitrogen dioxide into the air flow, thereby forming an air flow including nitrogen dioxide;
introducing the air flow including nitrogen dioxide into a receptacle including an inlet, an outlet and an antioxidant;
converting the nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide gas by contacting the nitrogen dioxide with the antioxidant; and
delivering the nitric oxide gas to the mammal in the air flow.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the air flow has a flow rate of 5 liters per minute.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the diffusion cell is made of stainless steel or plastic.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the diffusion cell is coupled to at least one needle from which the gas including nitrogen dioxide is released.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein each needle is connected to a permeation tube.