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US 12,139,401 B2Granted
Apparatus and method for generating nitric oxide in controlled and accurate amounts
AssigneeNitricGen, Inc.
InventorsFrederick John Montgomery, Cory Casper, Duncan P. L. Bathe, Tye Gribb
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims25
An apparatus for generating nitric oxide comprising:
- a reaction chamber enclosing two electrodes separated by a gap;
- a gas inlet port for introducing a flow of reactant gas comprising oxygen and nitrogen into the reaction chamber;
- an electronic control circuit to generate one or more electrical pulses across the two electrodes to produce a product gas comprising a desired concentration of nitric oxide, the electrical control circuit configured to:
- trigger a first voltage across the two electrodes, wherein the first voltage is sufficient to cause a dielectric breakdown across the gap;
- and
- trigger one or more further voltages across the two electrodes to maintain the one or more electrical pulses for a desired pulse duration;
- and
- a gas outlet port for delivering the product gas comprising nitric oxide for use thereof.
5 more elements
A method for generating nitric oxide, the method comprising:
- receiving a flow of reactant gas comprising oxygen and nitrogen into a reaction chamber enclosing two electrodes separated by a gap;
- generating an electrical discharge across the two electrodes to produce a product gas comprising a desired concentration of nitric oxide, wherein the electrical discharge is generated by:
- triggering a first voltage across the two electrodes, wherein the first voltage is sufficient to cause a dielectric breakdown across the gap;
- and
- triggering one or more further voltages across the two electrodes to maintain the electrical discharge for a desired pulse duration;
- and
- outputting the product gas comprising the nitric oxide.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.