IP Library Granted Patent US 10,328,228
Granted Patent B2
US 10,328,228 · App. 15/907,258 · Granted Jun 25, 2019

Systems and methods for ambulatory generation of nitric oxide

Inventors: David G. Zapol (San Francisco, CA); Gregory W. Hall (Belmont, MA); Wolfgang Scholz (Beverly, MA); Benjamin Apollonio (Lunenburg, MA); Frank Heirtzler (Londonderry, NH)
Assignee: Third Pole, Inc.
A61M16/12A61K33/00A61M16/0057A61M16/0093A61M16/022A61M16/024A61M16/04A61M16/0666A61M16/101A61M16/107A61M16/202C01B21/32A61M2202/0275A61M2202/0283A61M2205/05A61M2205/054A61M2205/125A61M2205/3584A61M2205/502A61M2205/80A61M2205/8206A61M2209/088
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,328,228
App. No.
15/907,258
Granted
Jun 25, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for portable and compact nitric oxide (NO) generation that can be embedded into other therapeutic devices or used alone. In some embodiments, an ambulatory NO generation system can be comprised of a controller and disposable cartridge. The cartridge can contain filters and scavengers for preparing the gas used for NO generation and for scrubbing output gases prior to patient inhalation. The system can utilize an oxygen concentrator to increase nitric oxide production and compliment oxygen generator activity as an independent device. The system can also include a high voltage electrode assembly that is easily assembled and installed. Various nitric oxide delivery methods are provided, including the use of a nasal cannula.

Claims (52)

1. A wearable nitric oxide generation system comprising:

a housing configured to be wearable;

a reactant gas flow path located in the housing, the reactant gas flow path configured to provide release of a pressurized reactant gas at specific flow rates to one or more plasma chambers;

one or more electrodes located in the one or more plasma chambers configured to generate a product gas containing nitric oxide using a flow of the reactant gas through the one or more plasma chambers;

a controller configured to regulate the amount of nitric oxide generated in the reactant gas;

a disposable cartridge including one or more scavenger paths configured to remove NO 2 from the product gas generated by the one or more plasma chambers, and

a connector to deliver the product gas to a patient delivery device;

wherein the controller measures a resonant frequency of a high voltage circuit and controls a frequency and a duty cycle of an AC waveform to maximize excitation of the high voltage circuit; and

wherein the resonant frequency is determined throughout a service life of the system to accommodate changes in environmental conditions, system wear, and/or manufacturing variance.

2. The wearable nitric oxide generation system of claim 1 , wherein the disposable cartridge includes an inlet filter, an exhaust scavenger, and/or one or more exhaust filters.

3. The wearable nitric oxide generation system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more filters positioned to receive NO-enriched air from the one or more scavenger paths and configured to filter the NO-enriched air.

4. The wearable nitric oxide generation system of claim 1 , wherein the patient delivery device is selected from a group consisting of a nasal cannula, a tube located near an ear, and a tube in communication with a trachea.

5. The wearable nitric oxide generation system of claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to be used with a device selected from a group consisting of a resuscitation instrument, a ventilator, a defibrillator, a ventricular assist device (VAD), a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) system, a Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) system, a non-invasive positive pressure ventilator (NIPPV), a heated high-flow nasal cannula application, a nebulizer, an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO); a cardio-pulmonary bypass system, an automated CPR system, an oxygen delivery system, an oxygen concentrator system, an oxygen generation system, and/or an automated external defibrillator (AED).

6. The wearable nitric oxide generation system of claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to be used with an oxygen generator or an oxygen concentrator to increase nitric oxide production.

7. The wearable nitric oxide generation system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the shape of an AC waveform by controlling a frequency and a duty cycle.

8. The wearable nitric oxide generation system of claim 1 , wherein the resonant frequency is automatically determined at a power-up of the system.

9. The wearable nitric oxide generation system of claim 1 , wherein the resonant frequency is automatically determined at the beginning of each patient treatment.

10. The wearable nitric oxide generation system of claim 1 , wherein the resonant frequency is stored in memory between uses so that a resonance search is not required at power-up of the system.

11. The wearable nitric oxide generation system of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface configured to allow a user to interact with the system, view information about the system and nitric oxide production, and control parameters related to nitric oxide production.

12. The wearable nitric oxide generation system of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface that includes illuminated indicators for alarm status, battery charge status, external power connection, cartridge remaining life, O2 flow detection, GSM connection, and/or NO generation.

13. The wearable nitric oxide generation system of claim 1 , further comprising a microphone to receive user voice inputs.

14. The wearable nitric oxide generation system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more antennae for GSM, Bluetooth, WiFi and/or other connectivity.

15. The wearable nitric oxide generation system of claim 1 , further comprising a reactant gas source in the form of a reservoir in fluid communication with the one or more plasma chambers.

16. The wearable nitric oxide generation system of claim 1 , wherein the reactant gas source is a pump.

17. The wearable nitric oxide generation system of claim 1 , wherein the system is portable for use outside a hospital.

18. A wearable nitric oxide generation system comprising:

a housing configured to be wearable;

a reactant gas flow path located in the housing, the reactant gas flow path configured to provide release of a pressurized reactant gas at specific flow rates to one or more plasma chambers;

one or more electrodes located in the one or more plasma chambers configured to generate a product gas containing nitric oxide using a flow of the reactant gas through the one or more plasma chambers;

a controller configured to regulate the amount of nitric oxide generated in the reactant gas;

a disposable cartridge including one or more scavenger paths configured to remove NO 2 from the product gas generated by the one or more plasma chambers; and

a connector to deliver the product gas to a patient delivery device;

wherein the controller measures a resonant frequency of a high voltage circuit and controls a frequency and a duty cycle of an AC waveform to maximize excitation of the high voltage circuit; and

wherein the resonant frequency is automatically determined at a power-up of the system.

19. A wearable nitric oxide generation system comprising:

a housing configured to be wearable;

a reactant gas flow path located in the housing, the reactant gas flow path configured to provide release of a pressurized reactant gas at specific flow rates to one or more plasma chambers;

one or more electrodes located in the one or more plasma chambers configured to generate a product gas containing nitric oxide using a flow of the reactant gas through the one or more plasma chambers;

a controller configured to regulate the amount of nitric oxide generated in the reactant gas;

a disposable cartridge including one or more scavenger paths configured to remove NO 2 from the product gas generated by the one or more plasma chambers; and

a connector to deliver the product gas to a patient delivery device;

wherein the controller measures a resonant frequency of a high voltage circuit and controls a frequency and a duty cycle of an AC waveform to maximize excitation of the high voltage circuit; and

wherein the resonant frequency is automatically determined at the beginning of each patient treatment.

20. A wearable nitric oxide generation system comprising:

a housing configured to be wearable;

a reactant gas flow path located in the housing, the reactant gas flow path configured to provide release of a pressurized reactant gas at specific flow rates to one or more plasma chambers;

one or more electrodes located in the one or more plasma chambers configured to generate a product gas containing nitric oxide using a flow of the reactant gas through the one or more plasma chambers;

a controller configured to regulate the amount of nitric oxide generated in the reactant gas;

a disposable cartridge including one or more scavenger paths configured to remove NO 2 from the product gas generated by the one or more plasma chambers; and

a connector to deliver the product gas to a patient delivery device;

wherein the controller measures a resonant frequency of a high voltage circuit and controls a frequency and a duty cycle of an AC waveform to maximize excitation of the high voltage circuit; and

wherein the resonant frequency is stored in memory between uses so that a resonance search is not required at power-up of the system.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2024
From: AVENUE VENTURE OPPORTUNITIES FUND L.P.
To: THIRD POLE, INC.
Reel/Frame 066825/0518 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 18, 2024
From: THIRD POLE, INC.
To: AMERICAN MONEY MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 066812/0657 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 12, 2021
From: THIRD POLE, INC.
To: AVENUE VENTURE OPPORTUNITIES FUND, L.P.
Reel/Frame 055986/0148 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 19, 2020
From: FERENCZ, ANDREW
To: THIRD POLE, INC.
Reel/Frame 051854/0731 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2018
From: ZAPOL, DAVID G.; HALL, GREGORY W.; SCHOLZ, WOLFGANG; APOLLONIO, BENJAMIN; HEIRTZLER, FRANK
To: THIRD POLE, INC.
Reel/Frame 045420/0861 →
Continuity (7)
Provisional Application 62463943 · Feb 27, 2017
Provisional Application 62463956 · Feb 27, 2017
Provisional Application 62509394 · May 22, 2017
Provisional Application 62553572 · Sep 1, 2017
Provisional Application 62574173 · Oct 18, 2017
Provisional Application 62614492 · Jan 7, 2018
Related Publication 20180243528A1 · Aug 30, 2018
Cited By (6)
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