Nitric oxide generation, dilution, and topical application apparatus and method
An apparatus for controlled delivery of nitric oxide. A pump draws air through an activated carbon filter and into a reaction chamber. The generation of nitric oxide occurs in the reaction chamber. A second pump draws the gas in the reaction chamber through a calcium hydroxide filter and delivers the nitric oxide through an orifice, or aperture, that controls the flow of nitric oxide delivered. The nitric oxide is filtered through a calcium hydroxide filter just prior to being made available for various nitric oxide therapies. Topical applications that provide a nitric oxide therapy to a surface are also provided.
1. A method of generating nitric oxide, the method comprising:
pumping a filtered gas into a reaction chamber, wherein the filtered gas is ambient air that has been filtered to remove oxygen and moisture;
providing a mixture of reactants in a solid form comprising at a mixture of a calcined chromium oxide compound in combination with, a nitrite compound and a nitrate compound in the reaction chamber;
activating the reactants to initiate a reaction generating a nitric oxide gas without the use of a liquid or a solution;
evacuating the nitric oxide gas away from the reaction chamber in a closed conduit to inhibit further heating thereof and to resist further reaction of the nitric oxide gas;
filtering the nitric oxide gas after the reaction; and
delivering the nitric oxide at substantially ambient conditions to a user to provide a therapeutically safe concentration of nitric oxide.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reactants are activated by use of a heating element connected to the reaction chamber.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
cooling the nitric oxide gas after it is evacuated from the reaction chamber.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
analyzing the concentration of the nitric oxide gas being delivered to the user; and
adjusting the concentration of the nitric oxide gas being delivered to the user via an automated feedback loop to maintain a desired concentration.
5. A method for producing nitric oxide gas comprising:
pumping a filtered gas into a reaction chamber, wherein the filtered gas is ambient air that has been filtered to remove oxygen and moisture;
providing a granulated mixture of reactants, wherein the granulated mixture comprises effective amounts of calcined chromium oxide, a nitrite compound, and a nitrate compound and the granulated mixture is capable of passing through a five micron screen and capable of producing a nitric oxide gas in the reaction chamber, wherein the granulated mixture of reactants are activated by use of a heating element connected to the reaction chamber;
activating the reactants and generating the nitric oxide gas;
evacuating the nitric oxide gas away from the reaction chamber in a closed conduit to inhibit further heating thereof and to resist further reaction of the nitric oxide gas; and
delivering the nitric oxide at substantially ambient conditions to a user to provide a therapeutically safe concentration of nitric oxide.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
cooling the nitric oxide gas after it is evacuated from the reaction chamber.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
filtering the nitric oxide gas after it is evacuated from the reaction chamber.
8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
analyzing the concentration of the nitric oxide gas being delivered to the user; and
adjusting the concentration of the nitric oxide gas being delivered to the user via an automated feedback loop to maintain a desired concentration.
9. A method for producing nitric oxide gas comprising:
pumping a filtered gas into a reaction chamber;
providing a mixture of at least three reactants in the reaction chamber, wherein the mixture is in a solid form and comprises at least a calcined chromium oxide compound, a nitrite compound, and a nitrate compound;
activating the reactants and generating a nitric oxide gas;
evacuating the nitric oxide gas away from the reaction chamber in a closed conduit to inhibit further heating thereof and to resist further reaction of the nitric oxide gas;
cooling the nitric oxide gas;
filtering the nitric oxide gas;
analyzing the concentration of the nitric oxide gas;
adjusting the concentration of the nitric oxide gas; and
delivering the nitric oxide at substantially ambient conditions and at the adjusted concentration to a user.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the reactants are activated by use of a heating element connected to the reaction chamber.