METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADMINISTERING GASES INCLUDING NITRIC OXIDE

1 . A method of modulating oxygen saturation levels, comprising:

measuring oxygen saturation levels in a patient;

administering inhaled nitric oxide;

adjusting the dose of oxygen in real time to a second dose based on the inhaled nitric oxide;

determining a first oxygen requirement to address an oxygen deficiency;

determining a reduced oxygen requirement based on the generated nitric oxide; and

delivering a dose of supplemental oxygen based on the reduced oxygen requirement and the gas mixture including nitric oxide from the receptacle to the patient.

2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising

mixing a first gas including oxygen and a second gas including a nitric oxide-releasing agent within a receptacle to form a gas mixture, wherein the receptacle includes an inlet, an outlet and a reducing agent; and

contacting the nitric oxide-releasing agent in the gas mixture with the reducing agent to generate nitric oxide

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting the dose includes titrating the dose of oxygen in real time.

4 . A method of modulating oxygen saturation levels, comprising:

measuring oxygen saturation levels in a patient;

determining a first dose of oxygen to address an oxygen deficiency;

mixing a first gas including oxygen and a second gas including a nitric oxide;

determining a second dose of oxygen based on an amount of nitric oxide to be co-administered with the oxygen, wherein the second dose is lower than the first dose; and

delivering the gas mixture including nitric oxide from the receptacle to the patient.

5 . The method of 1 , wherein the method includes an incremental reduction of pO2.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is performed to reduce oxygen-induced inflammation.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising reducing lung fibrosis.

8 . The method of claim 1 further comprising reducing oxidative stress.

9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the method is performed to address oxygen deficiency due to high altitude.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the nitric oxide-releasing agent is nitrogen dioxide.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising delivering a hydrogen gas.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second gas includes an inert gas or oxygen.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the concentration of nitric oxide in the gas mixture delivered is at least 0.01 ppm and at most 2 ppm.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the concentration of nitric oxide in the gas mixture delivered is at least 0.01 ppm and at most 2 ppm.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient is treated for symptoms of interstitial lung disease, oxygen-induced inflammation, cardiac ischemia, myocardial dysfunction, ARDS, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, COPD, emphysema, fibrosis, or mountain sickness due to high altitude.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the hydrogen acts to eliminate peroxynitrite, thereby reducing adverse effects of nitric oxide.

16 . The method of claim 2 , wherein delivering the gas mixture including nitric oxide from the receptacle to the mammal includes passing the gas mixture through a delivery conduit located between the receptacle and a patient interface.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the volume of the receptacle is greater than the volume of the delivery conduit.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the volume of the receptacle is at least two times the volume of the delivery conduit.

19 . The method of claim 2 , wherein delivering the gas mixture including nitric oxide from the receptacle to the mammal includes intermittently providing the gas mixture to the mammal.

20 . The method of claim 2 , wherein delivering the gas mixture including nitric oxide from the receptacle to the mammal includes pulsing the gas mixture.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein pulsing includes providing the gas mixture for one or more pulses of 1 to 6 seconds.

22 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the volume of the receptacle is greater than the volume of the gas mixture in a pulse.

23 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the volume of the receptacle is at least twice the volume of the gas mixture in a pulse.

24 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the gas mixture is stored in the receptacle between pulses.

25 . The method of claim 2 , comprising storing the gas mixture in the receptacle for a predetermined period of time, and wherein the predetermined period is at least 1 second.

26 . The method of claim 20 , wherein pulsing includes providing the gas mixture for two or more pulses and the concentration of nitric oxide in each pulse varies by less than 10%.

27 . The method of claim 20 , wherein pulsing includes providing the gas mixture for two or more pulses and the concentration of nitric oxide in each pulse varies by less than 10 ppm.

28 . The method of claim 2 , comprising communicating the first gas through a gas conduit to the receptacle and supplying the second gas into the gas conduit immediately prior to the receptacle.

29 . The method of claim 2 , comprising supplying the second gas at the receptacle.

30 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising administering exogenous NO in an amount effective to modulate the hormesis characteristics of NO.

31 . The method of claim 1 wherein the nitric oxide is provided in an effective amount to minimize hemolysis such as during sepsis, mechanical circulatory support, valvular dysfunction, sickle cell anemia, etc.

32 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the nitric oxide is administered to neonates.

33 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the nitric oxide is administered to pediatric patients.

34 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the nitric oxide is administered to adults.

35 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the nitric oxide is provided through a cartridge having a length, width, and thickness, an outer surface, and an inner surface, and can be substantially cylindrical in shape.

36 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the thickness between the inner and outer surface is constant, thereby providing a uniform exposure to the reducing agents.

37 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the cartridge is configured to utilize the whole surface area in converting nitric oxide-releasing agents to NO.

38 . A method of modulating oxygen saturation levels, comprising:

implanting a pulmonary artery pressure sensor;

monitoring pulmonary artery pressure in real time;

measuring oxygen saturation levels in a patient;

administering inhaled nitric oxide;

adjusting the dose of oxygen in real time to a second dose based on the inhaled nitric oxide;

determining a first oxygen requirement to address an oxygen deficiency;

determining a reduced oxygen requirement based on the generated nitric oxide; and

delivering a dose of supplemental oxygen based on the reduced oxygen requirement and the gas mixture including nitric oxide from the receptacle to the patient.

39 . The method of claim 38 , wherein the pulmonary artery pressure sensor is configured to monitor the right heart.

40 . The method of claim 38 , wherein the pulmonary artery pressure sensor is configured to monitor the left heart.

41 . The method of claim 38 , wherein the pulmonary artery pressure sensor is a wireless device.

42 . The method of claim 1 , wherein hydrogen is added in the following combinations: (H+O2) or (H+NO) or (H+NO+O2).