CONVERSION OF NITROGEN DIOXIDE (NO2) TO NITRIC OXIDE (NO)
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 of delivering the therapeutic gas to a mammal comprising:
diffusing gaseous nitrogen dioxide into an air flow wherein the air flow is configured to be between 5 to 60 liters per minute;
receiving the air flow at an inlet of a receptacle, the receptacle including the inlet, an outlet, and a surface-active material coated with an aqueous solution of an antioxidant, wherein the air flow is fluidly communicated to the outlet through the surface-active material to convert the gaseous nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide at ambient temperature prior to delivery to the mammal.
2 .- 11 . (canceled)
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the air flow is at 5 liters per minute.
13 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the receptacle has a pressure drop of between 0.001 and 0.01 psi.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the air flow is at 60 liters per minute or lower.
15 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the receptacle has a pressure drop of between 0.001 and 0.05 psi.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle comprises a cartridge.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface-active material is saturated with the aqueous solution of the antioxidant.
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface-active material comprises a substrate that retains water.
19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface-active material comprises a silica gel.
20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the antioxidant comprises ascorbic acid.
21 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the antioxidant comprises alpha tocopherol or gamma tocopherol.