# US 12,186,486 B2 · Apparatus and method for portable nitric oxide delivery

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- Number: US 12,186,486 B2
- Document ID: US12186486B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/025,298
- Filed: 2020-09-18
- Published: 2021-04-08
- Granted: 2025-01-07
- Earliest claimed: 2008-08-21
- Assignees: VERO Biotech Inc.
- Applicants: VERO Biotech Inc.
- Inventors: David H. Fine; Gregory Vasquez; Bryan Johnson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12186486B2

## CPC

- A61M 16/10: Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
- A61K 31/198: Alpha-amino acids, e.g. alanine or edetic acid [EDTA] (betaine A61K31/205; proline A61K31/401; tryptophan A61K31/405; histidine A61K31/4172; peptides not degraded to individual amino acids A61K38/00)
- A61K 33/00: Medicinal preparations containing inorganic active ingredients
- A61M 16/021: {operated by electrical means (A61M16/202 – A61M16/205 take precedence)}
- A61P 1/08: for nausea, cinetosis or vertigo; Antiemetics
- A61P 3/00: Drugs for disorders of the metabolism (of the blood or the extracellular fluid A61P7/00)
- A61P 7/00: Drugs for disorders of the blood or the extracellular fluid
- A61P 9/12: Antihypertensives
- A61P 11/00: Drugs for disorders of the respiratory system
- A61P 25/04: Centrally acting analgesics, e.g. opioids
- A61P 25/20: Hypnotics; Sedatives
- A61P 43/00: Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00
- A61M 16/0666: {Nasal cannulas or tubing (devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02)}
- A61M 16/107: {in the inspiratory path}
- A61M 16/1075: {by influencing the temperature (A61M16/1045 takes precedence)}
- A61M 2202/0208: Oxygen
- A61M 2202/0275: Nitric oxide [NO]
- A61M 2202/03: Gases in liquid phase, e.g. cryogenic liquids
- A61M 2205/3613: by body heat
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D)
- A61P: SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS

## Abstract

A device and method for treating high-altitude sickness can include a handheld device, and can deliver a therapeutic amount of nitric oxide to an individual's lungs in order to minimize or treat high-altitude sickness. The device is self-contained and portable, which allows an individual to carry and use the device in high-altitude or other low-oxygen environments.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus comprising:
a reservoir configured to be filled with liquid dinitrogen tetroxide and having a gas space configured to be filled with gaseous nitrogen dioxide;
a diffusion tube positioned such that an open end of the diffusion tube protrudes into the reservoir and prevents liquid dinitrogen tetroxide from being transferred into the diffusion tube regardless of orientation of the reservoir; and
a narrow-bore tube that is positioned within the diffusion tube and connecting the reservoir with an exterior of the reservoir, the narrow-bore tube having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the narrow-bore tube is positioned above the liquid dinitrogen tetroxide at any orientation of the reservoir, and
a conversion cartridge fluidically coupled to the second end of the narrow-bore diffusion tube, the conversion cartridge configured to convert nitrogen dioxide into nitric oxide.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the narrow-bore diffusion tube is a capillary.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a length of the narrow-bore diffusion tube and a diameter of the narrow-bore diffusion tube define a rate at which nitrogen dioxide diffuses from the reservoir at a constant temperature.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a length of the narrow-bore diffusion tube, a diameter of the narrow-bore diffusion tube, and a temperature of the reservoir define a rate at which the conversion cartridge produces nitric oxide.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a patient interface fluidically coupled to the conversion cartridge and configured to deliver nitric oxide to a patient.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is filled with liquid dinitrogen tetroxide.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is filled with liquid dinitrogen tetroxide in equilibrium with gaseous nitrogen dioxide in the gas space.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pump configured to deliver a controlled concentration of nitric oxide in air from the conversion cartridge to a patient.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a source of oxygen-containing gas configured to mix with nitric oxide leaving the conversion cartridge.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conversion cartridge includes a surface-activated material wetted with an antioxidant.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conversion cartridge includes a surface-activated material wetted with a non-toxic antioxidant.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conversion cartridge includes a surface-activated material wetted with at least one of vitamin C or vitamin E.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cartridge is configured to be fluidically coupled to a ventilator such that the ventilator can deliver nitric oxide to a patient.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a heater configured to control a temperature of the reservoir, a rate at which nitrogen dioxide leaves the narrow-bore diffusion tube being based on a temperature of the reservoir.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reservoir contains less than 10 ml of liquid dinitrogen tetroxide.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is portable.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reservoir does not comprise a heating element.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reservoir has a spherical shape.