Apparatus and Method for Generating Nitric Oxide in Controlled and Accurate Amounts

Abstract

A nitric oxide generator generates nitric oxide from a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen such as air treated by a pulsating electrical discharge. The desired concentration of nitric oxide is obtained by controlling at least one of a frequency of the pulsating electrical discharge and duration of each electrical discharge pulse.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus comprising:
 an inlet configured to receive a reactant gas containing nitrogen and oxygen;   an outlet configured to provide a product gas containing nitric oxide, wherein the product gas is formed by a synthesis of the reactant gas;   a reaction chamber arranged between the inlet and the outlet;   one or more pairs of electrodes within the reaction chamber and configured to initiate a series of electric arcs to synthesize the reactant gas to the product gas;   a sensor configured to measure a flow of a gas in a ventilator into which the product gas is provided through the outlet; and   a controller in communication with the one or more pairs of electrodes and the sensor, the controller being configured to:   adjust at least one of energy generated by the one or more pairs of electrodes, arc frequency, arc current, and a voltage supplied to the one or more pairs of electrodes based on the measured flow to control a concentration of nitric oxide in the product gas.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more pairs of electrodes include a noble metal. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a filter arranged upstream of the inlet. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the controller adjusts the at least one of a pulse width, pulse period, pulse count per pulse group, pulse groups per second, energy generated by the one or more pairs of electrodes, arc frequency, arc current, and a voltage to minimize a concentration of NO 2  in the product gas. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the controller controls the nitric oxide concentration of the product gas with the flow rate of the reactant gas. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus comprising:
 an inlet configured to receive a reactant gas containing nitrogen and oxygen;   an outlet configured to provide a product gas containing nitric oxide, wherein the product gas is formed by a synthesis of the reactant gas;   a reaction chamber arranged between the inlet and the outlet;   a pair of electrodes within the reaction chamber and configured to initiate electric arcs to synthesize the reactant gas to the product gas;   a sensor configured to measure a flow of a ventilator gas into which the product gas is provided; and   a controller in communication with the pair of electrodes and the sensor, the controller being configured to:   adjust one or more conditions within the reaction chamber to control a concentration of nitric oxide in the product gas.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the pair of electrodes include a noble metal. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a filter arranged upstream of the inlet. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the ventilator gas into which the product gas is provided flows into an inspiratory limb associated with the ventilator. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more conditions within the reaction chamber include at least one of energy generated by the pair of electrodes, arc frequency, arc current, and a voltage supplied to the pair of electrodes based on the measured flow. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more conditions within the reaction chamber include a rate of reactant gas flow through the reaction chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more conditions within the reaction chamber include a pressure associated with the reaction chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the controller adjusts the one or more conditions within the reaction chamber to minimize a concentration of NO 2  in the product gas. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus comprising:
 an inlet configured to receive a reactant gas containing nitrogen and oxygen;   an outlet configured to provide a product gas containing nitric oxide, wherein the product gas is formed by a synthesis of the reactant gas;   a reaction chamber arranged between the inlet and the outlet;   a pair of electrodes within the reaction chamber and configured to initiate a series of electric arcs to synthesize the reactant gas to the product gas, the pair of electrodes include a nobel metal;   a sensor configured to measure a flow of a ventilator gas into which the product gas is provided; and   a controller in communication with the pair of electrodes and the sensor, the controller being configured to adjust one or more conditions within the reaction chamber to control a concentration of nitric oxide in the product gas based on the measured flow to control a concentration of nitric oxide in the product gas.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , the one or more conditions within the reaction chamber include a rate of reactant gas flow through the reaction chamber. 
     
     
         17 . A method for generating nitric oxide, the method comprising:
 providing a reactant gas containing nitrogen and oxygen to a reaction chamber having a pair of electrodes therein,   initiating a series of electric arcs in the reaction chamber to synthesize the reactant gas to a product gas containing nitric oxide;   measuring a flow of a ventilator gas into which the product gas is provided; and adjusting one or more conditions within the reaction chamber to control a concentration of nitric oxide in the product gas.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more conditions within the reaction chamber include at least one of energy generated by the pair of electrodes, arc frequency, arc current, and a voltage supplied to the pair of electrodes based on the measured flow to control the series of electrical arcs to control a concentration of nitric oxide in the product gas. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more conditions within the reaction chamber include the rate of air flow through the reaction chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more conditions within the reaction chamber include a pressure associated with the reaction chamber.