Synthesis of nitric oxide gas for inhalation

Abstract

In some additional aspects, an apparatus for generating nitric oxide (NO) can include one or more pairs of electrodes configured to initiate a series of electric arcs to synthesize a reactant gas into a product gas comprising NO, a sensor configured to measure a flow of a gas in a respiratory system into which the product gas is provided, a controller in communication with the one or more pairs of electrodes and the sensor. The controller is configured to adjust 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 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.

1 . An apparatus for generating nitric oxide (NO) comprising:
 one or more pairs of electrodes configured to initiate a series of electric arcs to synthesize a reactant gas into a product gas comprising NO;   a sensor configured to measure a flow of a gas in a respiratory system into which the product gas is provided; 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 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 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 to treat at least one of pulmonary fibrosis, infection, malaria, myocardial infarction, stroke, pulmonary hypertension, persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns, hypoxia as a result of explosive decompression of an aircraft or spacecraft, and high altitude pulmonary edema.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , 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 NO2 in the product gas. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the nitric oxide concentration of the product gas with the flow rate of the reactant gas. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the NO generator is configured to produce gas for respiration with a concentration of NO between 0.5 ppm and 500 ppm. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the flow of gas into which the product gas is provided flows into an inspiratory limb associated with the ventilator. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a timing of the synthesis of the product gas is configured to be synchronized with the inspiratory pressurization or gas flow in the respiratory system. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pairs of electrodes include a noble metal. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pairs of electrodes include iridium. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for generating nitric oxide (NO) comprising:
 one or more pairs of electrodes configured to initiate a series of electric arcs to synthesize a reactant gas into a product gas comprising NO;   a sensor configured to measure a condition associated with at least one of the reactant gas, the product gas, and a gas in a respiratory system into which the product gas is provided; 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 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 supplied to the one or more pairs of electrodes based on the measurement from the sensor to control a concentration of nitric oxide in the product gas to treat at least one of pulmonary fibrosis, infection, malaria, myocardial infarction, stroke, pulmonary hypertension, persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns, hypoxia as a result of explosive decompression of an aircraft or spacecraft, and high altitude pulmonary edema.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the NO generator is configured to produce gas for respiration with a concentration of NO between 0.5 ppm and 500 ppm. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the flow of gas into which the product gas is provided flows into an inspiratory limb associated with the ventilator. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more pairs of electrodes include a noble metal. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more pairs of electrodes include iridium. 
     
     
         14 . A method for generating nitric oxide (NO), the method comprising:
 providing a reactant gas containing nitrogen and oxygen to one or more pairs of electrodes,   initiating a series of electric arcs in the one or more pairs of electrodes to synthesize the reactant gas to a product gas containing nitric oxide;   measuring a flow of a gas in a respiratory system into which the product gas is provided; and   adjusting one or more conditions associated with the one or more electrodes based on the measured flow of gas in the respiratory system to control a concentration of nitric oxide in the product gas to treat at least one of pulmonary fibrosis, infection, malaria, myocardial infarction, stroke, pulmonary hypertension, persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns, hypoxia as a result of explosive decompression of an aircraft or spacecraft, and high altitude pulmonary edema.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more conditions within the reaction chamber include 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 supplied to the one or more pairs 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.