Inspiratory synthesis of nitric oxide

An apparatus comprising:

• a reaction chamber including one or more pairs of electrodes configured to generate a series of electric arcs to synthesize a reactant gas containing nitrogen and oxygen to a product gas containing nitric oxide, the reaction chamber being at least partially positioned within a tube into which the product gas is delivered;
• a sensor configured to measure one or more characteristics of a flow of a gas in the tube;
• an oxygen sensor being configured to measure a concentration of oxygen in the reactant gas;
• and
• a controller in communication with the one or more pairs of electrodes, the oxygen sensor, and the sensor, the controller being configured to adjust one or more control parameters within the reaction chamber based on the concentration of oxygen in the reactant gas to control a concentration of nitric oxide in the product gas.

An apparatus comprising:

• a reaction chamber coupled to a respiratory system, wherein the respiratory system includes a tube in fluid communication with an airway, the reaction chamber being arranged at least partially within the tube;
• one or more pairs of electrodes within the reaction chamber and configured to generate a series of electric arcs to synthesize a reactant gas containing nitrogen and oxygen to a product gas containing nitric oxide, the one or more pairs of electrodes including a noble metal;
• an oxygen sensor being configured to measure a concentration of oxygen in the reactant gas;
• and
• a controller in communication with the one or more pairs of electrodes and the oxygen sensor, the controller being configured to adjust one or more control parameters within the reaction chamber based on the concentration of oxygen in the reactant gas to control a concentration of nitric oxide in the product gas, and minimize a concentration of NO2 in the product gas.

A method for generating nitric oxide, the method comprising:

• measuring one or more characteristics of at least one of a flow of a gas in a tube of a respiratory system and a flow of gas into a reaction chamber, the tube being in fluid communication with an airway and including at least a portion of a reaction chamber therein;
• initiating a series of electric arcs in the reaction chamber based on the one or more characteristics to synthesize a reactant gas containing nitrogen and oxygen to a product gas containing nitric oxide, the one or more characteristics including an oxygen concentration in the reactant gas;
• and
• adjusting one or more control parameters within the reaction chamber based on the oxygen concentration in the reactant gas to control a concentration of nitric oxide in the product gas.