Gaseous nitric oxide-sequestering products and processes of preparing same

Abstract

A process of preparing articles having gaseous NO sequestered therein is disclosed, as well as articles prepared thereby. Also disclosed are articles having gaseous NO sequestered therewithin and having reduced amount of oxygen-containing and/or nitrogen-containing reactive species. Also disclosed are processes of preparing packaged articles having a non-gas permeable package that comprises gaseous NO therein and packaged articles made therefrom. Also disclosed are charging devices which can be utilized in the above-described processes. The articles prepared by the above-described processes are preferably medical devices such as indwelling catheters, intubation devices and tampons. Tampons having sequestered therein gaseous NO, uses thereof and processes of preparing same are also disclosed.

1 .- 117 . (canceled) 
     
     
         118 . A process of preparing an article having gaseous nitric oxide sequestered therewithin, the process comprising:
 placing an article within a chamber;   generating a reduced pressure in said chamber; and   filling said chamber with a gaseous nitric oxide-containing environment, thereby preparing the article having gaseous nitric oxide sequestered therewithin.   
     
     
         119 . The process of  claim 118 , wherein said generating said reduced pressure comprises reducing said pressure by from −1 psi to −50 psi. 
     
     
         120 . The process of  claim 118 , wherein at least a portion of the article comprises a plurality of voids for sequestering nitric oxide. 
     
     
         121 . The process of  claim 118 , wherein the article is a medical device. 
     
     
         122 . The process of  claim 121 , wherein said medical device is an implantable device. 
     
     
         123 . The process of  claim 121 , wherein said medical device is a tampon. 
     
     
         124 . The process of  claim 121 , wherein said medical device comprises a polymeric material. 
     
     
         125 . The process of  claim 118 , wherein said article is selected from the group consisting of a packaged article and a bare (unpackaged) article. 
     
     
         126 . The process of  claim 125 , wherein said packaged article comprises a gas-permeable package. 
     
     
         127 . An article having a gaseous nitric oxide sequestered therewithin, prepared by the process of  claim 118 . 
     
     
         128 . The article of  claim 127 , further comprising an enclosure. 
     
     
         129 . The article of  claim 127 , comprising at least 1 ppm per cm 3  nitric oxide sequestered there within. 
     
     
         130 . The article of  claim 127 , wherein said sequestered nitric oxide is releasable is an aqueous solution during a time period that ranges from 1 hour to 1 month. 
     
     
         131 . An article having sequestered therewithin at least 1 ppm nitric oxide per cm 3  and comprising less than 1 ppm per cm 3  nitrogen-containing and/or oxygen containing reactive species. 
     
     
         132 . The article of  claim 131 , having sequestered therein from 1 ppm to 200 ppm per cm 3  nitric oxide. 
     
     
         133 . The article of  claim 131 , wherein said sequestered nitric oxide is releasable in an aqueous solution during a time period that ranges from 1 hour to 1 month. 
     
     
         134 . The article of  claim 131 , further comprising an enclosure. 
     
     
         135 . The article of  claim 127 , being a medical device. 
     
     
         136 . The article of  claim 135 , wherein said medical device is selected from the group consisting of an indwelling catheter and a tracheal tube. 
     
     
         137 . The article of  claim 135 , wherein said medical device is a tampon. 
     
     
         138 . A tampon having sequestered therein gaseous nitric oxide. 
     
     
         139 . A process of preparing a tampon having sequestered therein nitric oxide, the process comprising:
 exposing a tampon to gaseous nitric oxide-containing environment, thereby preparing the tampon having sequestered therein nitric oxide.   
     
     
         140 . The process of  claim 139 , wherein said exposing comprises:
 placing the tampon is a chamber; and   filling the chamber with said nitric oxide-containing environment.   
     
     
         141 . The process of  claim 140 , further comprising, prior to said filling, generating a reduced pressure in said chamber. 
     
     
         142 . A method of treating a vaginal medical condition in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising placing a tampon having gaseous nitric oxide sequestered therein in a vagina of the subject. 
     
     
         143 . A method of treating a vaginal medical condition, the method comprising intravaginally administering to a subject in need thereof gaseous nitric oxide. 
     
     
         144 . The method of  claim 143 , wherein said intravaginally administering gaseous nitric oxide comprises placing a tampon having gaseous nitric oxide sequestered therein. 
     
     
         145 . A process of preparing a packaged article, wherein the packaged article comprises a gas-permeable package, the process comprising:
 exposing a packaged article to a gaseous nitric oxide-containing environment, thereby preparing the packaged article.   
     
     
         146 . The process of  claim 145 , wherein said exposing comprises:
 placing said packaged article in a chamber; and   filling the chamber with said nitric oxide-containing environment.   
     
     
         147 . The process of  claim 146 , further comprising, prior to said filling, sealing said chamber. 
     
     
         148 . The process of  claim 146 , further comprising, prior to said filling, generating a reduced pressure in said chamber. 
     
     
         149 . The process of  claim 145 , wherein the packaged article has gaseous nitric oxide sequestered within the article. 
     
     
         150 . A process of preparing a packaged article, wherein the packaged article comprises a non-gas permeable enclosure, the process comprising:
 positioning an intact article within said non-gas permeable enclosure, to thereby obtain a non gas-permeable enclosure having said article disposed therewithin;   exposing said enclosure with a gaseous nitric oxide-containing environment, so as to introduce into said enclosure said nitric oxide-containing environment; and   sealing said enclosure, thereby preparing the packaged article.   
     
     
         151 . The process of  claim 150 , wherein said exposing comprises:
 placing said enclosure in a chamber; and   filling said chamber with said gaseous nitric oxide-containing environment.   
     
     
         152 . The process of  claim 151 , further comprising, prior to said filling, sealing said chamber. 
     
     
         153 . The process of  claim 152 , further comprising, prior to said filling, reducing a pressure in said chamber. 
     
     
         154 . The process of  claim 150 , wherein the packaged article has gaseous nitric oxide sequestered within the article. 
     
     
         155 . A packaged article prepared by the process of  claim 145 . 
     
     
         156 . A packaged article prepared by the process of  claim 150 . 
     
     
         157 . A package comprising:
 a material configured to form an enclosure;   a article disposed within the enclosure; and   a gaseous nitric oxide-containing environment within said enclosure.   
     
     
         158 . The package of  claim 157 , wherein said package is a non-gas permeable package. 
     
     
         159 . The package of  claim 157 , wherein said enclosure is a sealed enclosure. 
     
     
         160 . The package of  claim 157 , wherein said environment is an ambient environment. 
     
     
         161 . The package of  claim 157 , wherein said environment comprises gaseous nitric oxide in an amount sufficient to sterilize said article and an interior of said enclosure. 
     
     
         162 . The package of  claim 157 , wherein said article has gaseous nitric oxide sequestered therewithin. 
     
     
         163 . The package of  claim 162 , wherein said gaseous nitric oxide sequestered in said article is releasable in an aqueous solution during at least 1 minute. 
     
     
         164 . A charging device comprising:
 a chamber comprising an inlet for receiving a gaseous nitric-oxide containing environment and an outlet for releasing said gaseous nitric-oxide containing environment; and   an article disposed within the chamber.   
     
     
         165 . The device of  claim 164 , further comprising an outlet for generating a reduced pressure in said chamber. 
     
     
         166 . A charging device comprising:
 a sealed chamber having a reduced pressure therewithin; and   an article disposed within the chamber.   
     
     
         167 . The device of  claim 166 , wherein the chamber further comprises an outlet for generating said negative pressure within said chamber. 
     
     
         168 . The device of  claim 167 , further comprising an inlet configured for receiving a gaseous nitric oxide-containing environment and an outlet for releasing said gaseous nitric oxide-containing environment.