Nitrogen dioxide storage cassette
View Patent ↗A nitric oxide delivery system can include a cassette which is a single use disposable component used to store liquid N 2 O 4 , activate upon operator demand, convert N 2 O 4 to NO 2 via a heating element(s) controlled by a console to deliver NO 2 at a controlled flow rate, direct concentrated NO 2 to a contained pair of conversion cartridges and exhaust NO gas to the console for delivery to the patient.
1. A cassette for conversion of nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide comprising:
a sealed housing,
a first cartridge capable of converting nitrogen dioxide gas to nitric oxide within the sealed housing,
the first cartridge comprising an inlet, a diverter, a body, an outlet, and a first porous solid matrix including a reducing agent,
the first porous solid matrix being positioned within the first cartridge such that there is a space between the body of the first cartridge and the first porous solid matrix, wherein the first porous solid matrix includes an open passage parallel to the length of the body of the first cartridge,
a second cartridge capable of converting nitrogen dioxide gas to nitric oxide, wherein an outlet of the first cartridge and an inlet of the second cartridge is connected,
the second cartridge comprising an inlet, a diverter, a body, an outlet, and a second porous solid matrix including a reducing agent,
the second porous solid matrix being positioned within the second cartridge such that there is a space between the body of the second cartridge and the second porous solid matrix wherein the second porous solid matrix includes an open passage parallel to the length of the body of the second cartridge; and
an inerting chamber including a mixture including a nitrogen dioxide inerting material, wherein the inerting chamber connects the first cartridge and the second cartridge and is within the sealed housing.
2. The cassette of claim 1 , wherein, in the first cartridge, the space has a width, which is a distance between the surface of the first porous solid matrix to the body of the first cartridge, and the width of the space is variable along the length of the receptacle, and wherein the inlet is configured to receive a gas flow, the diverter directs the gas flow to the space between the body and the first porous solid matrix, and the gas flow is fluidly communicated to the outlet through the first porous solid matrix to convert nitrogen dioxide in the gas flow into nitric oxide.
3. The cassette of claim 2 , wherein the width of the space decreases along a portion of the length of the receptacle.
4. The cassette of claim 2 , wherein the width of the space increases along a portion of the length of the receptacle.
5. The cassette of claim 4 , wherein the width of the space increases along a portion of the length of the receptacle extending from the inlet to approximately the midpoint of the receptacle, and the width of the space decreases along a portion of the length of the receptacle extending from the approximately the midpoint of the receptacle to the outlet.
6. The cassette of claim 1 , wherein the sealed housing further comprises a storage device of N 2 O 4 and NO 2 .
7. The cassette of claim 6 , wherein the storage device is contained within a shuttle tube, wherein the tube stabilizes the storage device.
8. The cassette of claim 7 , wherein the shuttle tube is positioned such that the inerting chamber opens to the storage device during shipment.
9. The cassette of claim 8 , wherein the inerting material undergoes a permanent color change when the storage device is broken.
10. The cassette of claim 1 , wherein the sealed housing further comprises a restrictor.
11. The cassette of claim 10 , wherein the restrictor connects a storage device and the first cartridge.
12. The cassette of claim 1 , wherein the sealed housing further comprises a heater.
13. The cassette of claim 12 , wherein the heater wraps around a storage device and controls an output of nitrogen dioxide gas by changing the temperature of the storage device.
14. The cassette of claim 1 , wherein the cassette is disposable after single use.
15. The cassette of claim 1 , further connected to a console, wherein the console controls a heater.
16. The cassette of claim 1 , wherein the inerting material removes NO 2 .