Nitric oxide sensor

A sensor for sensing concentrations of nitric oxide, the sensor comprising:

• a selectively permeable membrane configured to permit the diffusion of nitric oxide;
• a membrane-dispersed solid electrolyte configured to stabilize the nitric oxide to form stable, oxidizable nitric oxide complexes;
• one or more reference electrodes configured to oxidize substances other than the nitric oxide complexes;
• one or more sensing electrodes configured to oxidize the nitric oxide complexes;
• and
• one or more picoammeters configured to measure oxidation-generated electrical currents of the reference and sensing electrodes, wherein the picoammeters signal to a user of the sensor the concentrations of nitric oxide.

A method of measuring nitric oxide, the method comprising the steps of:

• introducing a sample comprising nitric oxide into a sensor for measuring the concentration of nitric oxide in the sample;
• precluding with a selectively permeable membrane the substantial permeation of other substances into the sensor that interfere with the oxidation of nitric oxide;
• stabilizing the nitric oxide with a solid electrolyte configured as a nitric oxide trapping agent to form stable and oxidizable nitric oxide complexes, wherein the membrane comprises the solid electrolyte;
• oxidizing with a reference electrode substances other than the nitric oxide complexes that permeate the membrane;
• oxidizing with a sensing electrode the nitric oxide complexes;
• transmitting with circuitry an electrical current indicative of the concentration of nitric oxide from the sensor to a picoammeter;
• and
• signaling with the picoammeter to a user of the sensor the concentration of nitric oxide in the sample.