Methods of treatment with nitric oxide at pressures greater than one atmosphere

Abstract

The present invention provides methods of treatment by delivering nitric oxide at a pressure greater than 1 atmosphere (atm) to a subject in need thereof. Thus, the present invention provides an improved method of treating the skin surface of a subject, and below the skin surface of a subject.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gaseous nitric oxide (gNO) delivery device for delivering pressurized gNO to a subject, the device comprising:
 a source of gNO fluidly connected to a bathing unit;   a flow control valve that controls the flow rate of the gNO flowing from the source of gNO to the bathing unit;   a vacuum unit that creates negative pressure within the bathing unit to extract the gNO from the bathing unit; and a   controller for regulating at least one parameter of the gNO delivery device.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure of gNO delivered to the subject is greater than 1 atm. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a source of dilutent gas to dilute the concentration of the gNO delivered to the subject. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the device further comprises a gas blender upstream of the flow control valve and downstream of both the source of gNO and the source of dilutent gas, wherein the gas blender mixes the gNO with a dilutent gas prior to being delivered to a subject. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the dilutent gas comprises nitrogen, air, oxygen, an inert gas, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flow control valve is a proportional control valve that opens and closes in a progressive manner to control the flow rate of the gNO flowing into the bathing unit. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the bathing unit further comprises a gNO inlet fluidly connected to the flow control valve and a gNO outlet, wherein the gNO inlet and the gNO outlet are located opposite each other on the bathing unit to provide a continuous flow of gNO. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the bathing unit further comprises an agitator for mixing the gNO within the bathing unit. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum unit is downstream of the bathing unit and further comprises a vent from which a stream of gas can exit the device into the surrounding atmosphere. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises an absorber unit located upstream of the vacuum unit and downstream of the bathing unit, wherein the absorber unit is configured to absorb, scrub, or strip gNO from a stream of gas exiting the bathing unit prior to entering the surrounding atmosphere. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is a microprocessor-based controller. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is coupled to a data input device and a display. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to allow a user to monitor and adjust the at least one parameters of the gNO device. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameters regulated by the controller of the gNO device comprises one or more of gNO concentration, gNO flow rate, gNO delivery time, and gNO pressure. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the bathing unit comprises one or more sensors, and wherein the controller is configured to receive input signals from the one or more sensors. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more sensors are one or more of nitric oxide sensors, nitric dioxide sensors or oxygen sensors. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more of sensors are chemilluminesence-type, electrochemical cell-type, or spectrophotometric-type sensors. 
     
     
         18 . A gaseous nitric oxide (gNO) delivery system for delivering pressurized gNO to a subject, the device comprising:
 a source of gNO fluidly connected to a bathing unit;   a flow control valve that controls the flow rate of the gNO flowing from the source of gNO to the bathing unit;   a vacuum unit that creates negative pressure within the bathing unit to extract the gNO from the bathing unit; and a   controller for regulating at least one parameter of the gNO delivery system.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the system further comprises a source of dilutent gas to dilute the concentration of the gNO delivered to the subject. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the system further comprises a gas blender upstream of the flow control valve and downstream of both the source of gNO and the source of dilutent gas, wherein the gas blender mixes the gNO with a dilutent gas prior to being delivered to a subject. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the system further comprises an absorber unit located upstream of the vacuum unit and downstream of the bathing unit, wherein the absorber unit is configured to absorb, scrub, or strip gNO from a stream of gas exiting the bathing unit prior to entering the surrounding atmosphere.