Conversion of nitrogen dioxide (no2) to nitric oxide (no)

Abstract

A nitric oxide delivery system, which includes a gas bottle having nitrogen dioxide in air, converts nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide and employs a surface-active material, such as silica gel, coated with an aqueous solution of antioxidant, such as ascorbic acid. A nitric oxide delivery system may be used to generate therapeutic gas including nitric oxide for use in delivering the therapeutic gas to a mammal.

1 . A method of delivering the therapeutic gas to a mammal comprising:
 diffusing gaseous nitrogen dioxide into an air flow wherein the air flow is configured to be between 5 to 60 liters per minute;   receiving the air flow at an inlet of a receptacle, the receptacle including the inlet, an outlet, and a surface-active material coated with an aqueous solution of an antioxidant, wherein the air flow is fluidly communicated to the outlet through the surface-active material to convert the gaseous nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide at ambient temperature prior to delivery to the mammal.   
     
     
         2 .- 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the air flow is at 5 liters per minute. 
     
     
         13 . The method of claim  2 , wherein the receptacle has a pressure drop of between 0.001 and 0.01 psi. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the air flow is at 60 liters per minute or lower. 
     
     
         15 . The method of claim  4 , wherein the receptacle has a pressure drop of between 0.001 and 0.05 psi. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle comprises a cartridge. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surface-active material is saturated with the aqueous solution of the antioxidant. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surface-active material comprises a substrate that retains water. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surface-active material comprises a silica gel. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antioxidant comprises ascorbic acid. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antioxidant comprises alpha tocopherol or gamma tocopherol.