Delivery of ultra pure nitric oxide (NO)
A system for delivering a therapeutic amount of nitric oxide can include a reservoir including a restrictor with a length of at least 0.5 inches and at most 2 inches covered by a metal sheath, a gas supply, and a delivery conduit. A delivery conduit can include at least one cartridge and a patient interface. The at least one cartridge can include a surface-active material and a reducing agent.
1 . A disposable module comprising:
a restrictor connected to a reservoir comprising a source of nitrogen dioxide gas, wherein the restrictor has a dimension defined by a total pressure drop effective to provide a predetermined amount of nitrogen dioxide gas; and wherein the restrictor and the reservoir are configured to be heated to a temperature of at most 200° C., and
at least one cartridge configured to receive the predetermined amount of nitrogen dioxide gas through the restrictor and to form a therapeutic amount of nitric oxide.
2 . The disposable module of claim 1 , wherein the restrictor is a capillary tube.
3 . The disposable module of claim 1 , wherein the restrictor is coupled to the at least one cartridge through a delivery conduit.
4 . The disposable module of claim 3 , wherein the predetermined amount of nitrogen dioxide received by the at least one cartridge is mixed with a gas.
5 . The disposable module of claim 4 , wherein the gas is delivered from a gas supply.
6 . The disposable module of claim 5 , wherein the gas supply is coupled to the delivery conduit.
7 . The disposable module of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cartridge comprises a surface-active material and a reducing agent.
8 . A system comprising a disposable module of claim 1 and a base unit.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the base unit comprises a gas supply.
10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the base unit comprises one or more of batteries, sensors and/or alarm electronics.
11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the system is portable.
12 . A method, comprising:
heating to a temperature of at most 200° C. a reservoir comprising a source of nitrogen dioxide to form the nitrogen dioxide;
passing a predetermined amount of nitrogen dioxide through a restrictor to at least one cartridge, wherein the predetermined amount of nitrogen dioxide is defined by the restrictor's dimension; and
forming a therapeutic amount of nitrogen oxide in the at least one cartridge.
13 . The method of claim 12 , forming a gas mixture by mixing the predetermined amount of nitrogen dioxide with a gas from a gas supply in a delivery conduit prior to entering the at least one cartridge.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the therapeutic amount of nitric oxide is formed by flowing the gas mixture through at least one cartridge, wherein the at least one cartridge comprises a surface-activated material and a reducing agent.
15 . The method of claim 14 , delivering the therapeutic amount of nitrogen oxide to a patient.