Nitric oxide generating systems for nasal inhalation

Abstract

An NO generating system for nasal inhalation includes a nose vent plug, which includes a nitric oxide (NO) impermeable housing and a receptacle. The NO impermeable housing has integrally formed walls that define a partially enclosed interior portion; two nasal protrusions extending from one of the integrally formed walls and in fluid communication with the partially enclosed interior portion; and an air vent defined in another of the integrally formed walls to introduce air flow into the partially enclosed interior portion. The receptacle is in the partially enclosed interior portion, and contains an NO generating formulation or is to receive an NO generating formulation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A nitric oxide (NO) generating system, comprising:
 a nose vent plug including:
 an nitric oxide (NO) impermeable housing having:
 integrally formed walls that define a partially enclosed interior portion; 
 two nasal protrusions extending from one of the integrally formed walls and in fluid communication with the partially enclosed interior portion; and 
 an air vent defined in an other of the integrally formed walls to introduce air flow into the partially enclosed interior portion; and 
 
 a receptacle in the partially enclosed interior portion, the receptacle containing an NO generating formulation or to receive an NO generating formulation. 
   
     
     
         2 . The NO generating system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the housing further includes a door defined in one of the integrally formed walls, the door being movable between a closed position and an open position that provides access to the receptacle. 
     
     
         3 . The NO generating system as defined in  claim 2  wherein the receptacle is a reservoir to receive a liquid form of the NO generating formulation. 
     
     
         4 . The NO generating system as defined in  claim 3 , further comprising a solid form of the NO generating formulation that is re-constitutable in a hydrating liquid to generate the liquid form prior to the liquid form being introduced into the reservoir. 
     
     
         5 . The NO generating system as defined in  claim 4  wherein the solid form of the NO generating formulation includes:
 a stable NO donor/adduct; 
 a hydrophilic binder; and 
 an additive to control a rate of release of NO from the NO donor/adduct after the formulation is exposed to an effective amount of the hydrating liquid. 
 
     
     
         6 . The NO generating system as defined in  claim 4  wherein the solid form of the NO generating formulation includes:
 a nitrite salt to generate NO when exposed to an effective amount of an acidic buffer; and 
 an additive to control a rate of release of NO from the nitrite salt after the formulation is exposed to the effective amount of the acidic buffer. 
 
     
     
         7 . The NO generating system as defined in  claim 6  wherein the solid form of the NO generating formulation further includes an oxygen scrubber. 
     
     
         8 . The NO generating system as defined in  claim 4 , further comprising a kit to generate the liquid form of the NO generating formulation, the kit including:
 a first solution including a nitrite salt in water; and   a second solution including an acidic buffer and an additive to control a rate of release of NO from the nitrite salt after the formulation is exposed to the effective amount of the acidic buffer.   
     
     
         9 . The NO generating system as defined in  claim 3 , further comprising an absorbent pad that is one of:
 contained in the reservoir and to be wet with the liquid form of the NO generating formulation; or   to be wet with the liquid form of the NO generating formulation and then introduced into the reservoir.   
     
     
         10 . The NO generating system as defined in  claim 9  wherein:
 the absorbent pad is removable from the receptacle; and 
 the nose vent plug is reusable. 
 
     
     
         11 . The NO generating system as defined in  claim 3 , further comprising an NO permeable membrane positioned at an opening of the reservoir, between the opening of the reservoir and the nasal protrusions, or in the nasal protrusions, the NO permeable membrane to prevent aerosol droplets form forming or to prevent aerosol droplets from reaching a user of the nose vent plug. 
     
     
         12 . The NO generating system as defined in  claim 2  wherein the receptacle is a reservoir, and the NO generating system further comprises an absorbent pad containing a solid form of the NO generating formulation that is re-constitutable in a hydrating liquid or an acidic buffer. 
     
     
         13 . The NO generating system as defined in  claim 12  wherein the solid form of the NO generating formulation includes an S-nitrosothiol (RSNO) powder or nitroprusside, or a nitrite salt. 
     
     
         14 . The NO generating system as defined in  claim 2  wherein:
 the receptacle is a reservoir; 
 the NO generating system further comprises an absorbent pad to be introduced into the reservoir; and 
 the NO generating formulation is i) in a powder or solid form that is to be introduced on or under the absorbent pad, and ii) is re-constitutable in a hydrating liquid or an acidic buffer. 
 
     
     
         15 . The NO generating system as defined in  claim 1  wherein:
 the NO generating formulation includes a stable NO donor/adduct that is activatable when exposed to an effective amount of water vapor; 
 the NO generating formulation is contained within an NO permeable container; and 
 the receptacle includes one of:
 a wall to affix the NO permeable container; or 
 slots to hold the NO permeable container. 
 
 
     
     
         16 . The NO generating system as defined in  claim 15  wherein the nose vent plug and the NO permeable container are disposable. 
     
     
         17 . The NO generating system as defined in  claim 15  wherein:
 the NO permeable container is removable from the receptacle; and 
 the nose vent plug is reusable. 
 
     
     
         18 . The NO generating system as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a fin to guide air in through the air vent. 
     
     
         19 . The NO generating system as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising an air divert valve to channel exhaled air out of the housing. 
     
     
         20 . The NO generating system as defined in  claim 19 , further comprising:
 an NO sensor;   a sensor feedback loop; and   an electronic controller to control the air divert valve in response to data form the sensor feedback loop.   
     
     
         21 . The NO generating system as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a filter positioned between the receptacle and the nasal protrusions, the filter including an absorbent to scavenge nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) released by the NO generating formulation, a reagent to convert generated NO 2  back to NO, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The NO generating system as defined in  claim 1  wherein:
 the NO generating formulation is blue or UV light activatable; and 
 the NO generating system further comprises a cartridge inserted in or to be inserted in the receptacle, the cartridge containing:
 the NO generating formulation; 
 a blue or UV light source positioned to illuminate the NO generating formulation; and 
 a battery operatively connected to the blue or UV light source. 
 
 
     
     
         23 . The NO generating system as defined in  claim 22 , further comprising:
 an NO sensor positioned in the cartridge; and   control electronics positioned in the cartridge.   
     
     
         24 . The NO generating system as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a head strap secured to the housing. 
     
     
         25 . The NO generating system as defined in  claim 24  wherein the nasal protrusions are flush with the housing, and the head strap is to secure the nose vent plug to a user's face. 
     
     
         26 . The NO generating system as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a fan secured to the housing. 
     
     
         27 . The NO generating system as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising an air humidifier secured to the housing. 
     
     
         28 . A nitric oxide (NO) generating system, comprising:
 an NO generating formulation, including:
 a stable NO donor/adduct; 
 a hydrophilic binder; and 
 an additive; 
 wherein the additive is to control a rate of release of NO from the NO donor/adduct after the formulation is exposed to an effective amount of water, water vapor, or blue or ultraviolet (UV) light; and 
   a nose vent plug in operative contact with the NO generating formulation.   
     
     
         29 . The NO generating system as defined in  claim 28  wherein the nose vent plug includes a housing having nasal protrusions, and wherein the housing is to hold the NO generating formulation in effective proximity to the nasal protrusions. 
     
     
         30 . The NO generating system as defined in  claim 29  wherein the NO generating formulation comprises a single solid or a plurality of the single solids in a container. 
     
     
         31 . The NO generating system as defined in  claim 29 , further comprising a reservoir positioned in the housing, the reservoir having walls that are impermeable to a hydrating liquid and that are NO permeable. 
     
     
         32 . The NO generating system as defined in  claim 28  wherein:
 the stable NO donor/adduct is an RSNO powder selected from the group consisting of S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), S-nitroso-cysteine, S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine, S-nitroso-penicillamine, and S-nitroso-albumin; 
 the hydrophilic binder is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate (PVA), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), polyacrylamide, acetates, polyethylene oxide (PEO), poly ethyl acrylate (PEA), polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl pyrrolidone-vinyl acetate (PVP-VA), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), microcrystalline cellulose, corn starch, and combinations thereof; and 
 the additive is selected from the group consisting of reduced glutathione, cysteine, ascorbic acid or ascorbate, ascorbyl palmitate, copper ions, zinc ions, zinc-oxide particles, an organoselenium species, and combinations thereof.