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 . A method of generating nitric oxide comprising:
 collecting information related to one or more conditions of a respiratory system associated with a patient;   determining one or more control parameters based on the collected information, the one or more control parameters being determined by a controller in electrical communication with at least one sensor for collecting the information related to one or more condition of the respiratory system;   receiving a gas flow containing oxygen and nitrogen into a reaction chamber having a first and second electrodes separated by a gap;   promoting electrical discharges across the first and second electrodes through the gas flow based on the determined control parameters while controlling a pulse frequency of the electrical discharges and a pulse duration of the electrical discharges to produce a predetermined concentration of nitric oxide in the gas flow; and   outputting the gas flow and nitric oxide from the reaction chamber;   wherein the one or more conditions include an inspiration event of the patient.   
     
     
         3 . A method comprising:
 collecting information related to one or more conditions of a respiratory system associated with a patient;   determining one or more control parameters based on the collected information, the one or more control parameters being determined by a controller in electrical communication with at least one sensor for collecting the information related to one or more condition of the respiratory system; and   initiating a series of electric pulse discharges external to the patient to generate nitric oxide based on the determined control parameters, the determined control parameters being used by the controller to trigger a series of electrical pulses to initiate the series of electric pulse discharges,   wherein the one or more conditions include an inspiration event of the patient.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the conditions associated with the respiratory system further include one or more of a flow rate of the reactant gas, a timing of the inspiration event, the nitric oxide concentration of the product gas, the nitrogen dioxide concentration of the product gas, the nitric oxide concentration of an inhaled gas, and the nitrogen dioxide concentration of the inhaled gas. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the timing of the inspiration event is received from a ventilator. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein an electronic control circuit initiates the series of electric pulse discharges, the electronic control circuit controlling the pulse frequency and/or pulse duration of the electric pulse discharge. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the series of electric pulse discharges generates a reduced level of nitrogen dioxide. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the reduced level of nitrogen dioxide is further reduced by a filter. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the series of electric pulse discharges is generated by electrodes comprising a noble metal. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the conditions associated with the respiratory system further include one or more of a flow rate of the reactant gas, a timing of the inspiration event, the nitric oxide concentration of the product gas, the nitrogen dioxide concentration of the product gas, the nitric oxide concentration of an inhaled gas, and the nitrogen dioxide concentration of the inhaled gas. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the timing of the inspiration event is received from a ventilator. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein an electronic control circuit initiates the series of electric pulse discharges, the electronic control circuit controlling the pulse frequency and/or pulse duration of the electric pulse discharge. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the series of electric pulse discharges generates a reduced level of nitrogen dioxide. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the reduced level of nitrogen dioxide is further reduced by a filter. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the series of electric pulse discharges is generated by electrodes comprising a noble metal. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus comprising:
 a chamber having an inlet for receiving a reactant gas and an outlet for delivering a product gas;   a sensor for collecting information related to one or more conditions of a respiratory system associated with a patient, wherein the one or more conditions include an inspiration event of the patient;   a controller for determining one or more control parameters based on the collected information, the controller being in electrical communication with the sensor to deliver a series of electrical pulses to a pair of electrodes; and   the pair of electrodes positioned inside the chamber for producing initiating a series of electric pulse discharges external to the patient based on the series of electrical pulses to generate nitric oxide based on the determined control parameters.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the conditions associated with the respiratory system further include one or more of a flow rate of the reactant gas, a timing of the inspiration event, the nitric oxide concentration of the product gas, the nitrogen dioxide concentration of the product gas, the nitric oxide concentration of an inhaled gas, and the nitrogen dioxide concentration of the inhaled gas. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the timing of the inspiration event is received from a ventilator. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein an electronic control circuit initiates the series of electric pulse discharges, the electronic control circuit controlling the pulse frequency and/or pulse duration of the electric pulse discharge. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the series of electric pulse discharges generates a reduced level of nitrogen dioxide. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a filter for further reducing the reduced level of nitrogen dioxide. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the electrodes comprise a noble metal.