Anti-microbial gas apparatus and method

Abstract

An apparatus and method administering nitric oxide at very high concentrations to healthy skin, tools, implements, support surfaces, and sterile fields to provide sterilization. The apparatus and method providing sterilization in a dry environment lacking the common undesirable effects of anti-microbial soaps and antiseptics.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 providing a surface to be sterilized;   substantially enclosing the surface within a volume;   providing a container defining the volume and comprising an inlet and an exit;   providing a generator generating nitric oxide, wherein the generator delivers the nitric oxide at negative gage pressure;   providing a conduit connecting the generator to the inlet;   introducing into the volume a preselected concentration of nitric oxide, wherein introducing comprises conducting the nitric oxide from the generator through the conduit to the inlet; and   waiting a preselected time for the nitric oxide to sterilize the surface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating nitric oxide further comprises heating a nitrite and a nitrate in the presence of a metal. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing a controller maintaining the preselected concentration of nitric oxide; and 
 controlling incursion of air into the volume from the environment thereof. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein generating nitric oxide further comprises heating a nitrite and a nitrate in the presence of a metal. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein generating nitric oxide produces substantially pure nitric oxide. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the controller exposes the surface to a preselected concentration of nitric oxide for a preselected time to render the surface sterilized of microbes. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 evacuating the volume through the exit; and 
 removing the surface from the volume. 
 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 providing a surface to be sterilized;   substantially enclosing the surface within a volume;   generating nitric oxide at negative gage pressure;   controlling incursion of air into the volume from the environment thereof;   introducing into the volume a preselected concentration of nitric oxide; and   waiting a preselected time for the nitric oxide to sterilize the surface.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein generating further comprises heating a nitrite and a nitrate in the presence of a metal. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein generating nitric oxide produces substantially pure nitric oxide. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 removing the surface from the volume; and 
 using the surface in an application requiring the surface to be sterile. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 providing a controller maintaining the preselected concentration of nitric oxide. 
 
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 obtaining a container providing a controlled environment, defining a volume limiting incursion of ambient air thereinto, and comprising an inlet and an exit;   obtaining a generator generating a stream of nitric oxide, wherein the stream is substantially pure nitric oxide;   operating the generator to deliver the stream at negative gage pressure;   arranging a conduit conducting the stream from the generator to the inlet;   connecting a controller operating to control concentration of the nitric oxide in the container;   selecting a surface to be sterilized;   substantially enclosing the surface within the volume;   controlling incursion of air into the volume from the environment thereof;   connecting the generator to the inlet of the container;   introducing into the volume a preselected concentration of nitric oxide; and   waiting a preselected time for the nitric oxide to sterilize the surface.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the generator further comprises heating a nitrite and a nitrate in the presence of a metal to generate the stream of nitric oxide. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising controlling by the controller, a concentration of the nitric oxide to a preselected concentration value for the preselected time, rendering the surface sterilized of microbes to a preselected sterilization value corresponding to a sterilization criterion. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the surface is at least one of:
 the skin of a hand of a user; and 
 a tool used by the user. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 removing the surface from the volume; and 
 using the surface in an application requiring the surface to be sterile.