Method and apparatus for generating nitric oxide for medical use

A device for controlled intermittent or continuous delivery of nitric oxide (NO) gas to the lung of a human patient in need thereof by inhalation, the device comprising:

• a reaction chamber comprising a rotatable reaction surface in fluid communication with the lung by inhalation with the human patient;
• a first controllable liquid dispensing system adapted to spray aqueous droplets comprising dissolved nitrite salt compound to a location in the reaction chamber at a pulsed rate into contact with a liquid reductant;
• a second controllable liquid dispensing system adapted to spray at a pulsed rate the liquid reductant at substantially the same location on the rotatable reaction surface in the reaction chamber as the aqueous droplets comprising dissolved nitrite salt compound;
• and
• an outlet for discharging NO gas from the reaction chamber for delivery to the patient;
• wherein delivery of NO gas to the lung is controlled by controlling the frequency at which the aqueous nitrite salt compound droplets are contacted with the liquid reductant, and
• wherein the reductant comprises ascorbic acid and maleic acid at a 1:1 molar ratio.

A device for controlled intermittent or continuous delivery of nitric oxide (NO) gas to the lung of a human patient in need thereof by inhalation, the device comprising:

• a reaction chamber comprising a rotatable reaction surface in fluid communication with the lung by inhalation with the patient;
• a first controllable liquid dispensing system adapted to spray aqueous droplets comprising dissolved nitrite salt compound in the range of 10 picoliters to 100 picoliters at a pulsed rate into contact with a liquid reductant;
• a second controllable liquid dispensing system adapted to spray at a pulsed rate the liquid reductant at substantially the same location on the rotatable reaction surface in the reaction chamber as the aqueous droplets comprising dissolved nitrite salt compound;
• an outlet for discharging NO gas from the reaction chamber for delivery to the patient;
• a ventilator in fluid communication with the outlet and adapted to provide inspiratory gas to the patient through the device for controlled delivery of NO gas;
• wherein delivery of NO gas to the lung is controlled by controlling the frequency at which the aqueous nitrite salt compound droplets are contacted with the liquid reductant;
• wherein the nitrite salt compound is sodium nitrite and the liquid reductant is ascorbic acid and maleic acid;
• and
• wherein the ascorbic acid and maleic acid are at a 1:1 molar ratio.