Synthesis of nitric oxide gas for inhalation

An apparatus for generating nitric oxide (NO) comprising:

• one or more pairs of electrodes configured to initiate a series of electric arcs to synthesize a reactant gas into a product gas comprising NO;
• a sensor configured to measure a condition associated with at least one of the reactant gas, the product gas, and a gas in a respiratory system into which the product gas is provided;
• and
• a controller in communication with the one or more pairs of electrodes and the sensor, the controller being configured to adjust at least one of a pulse width, pulse period, pulse count per pulse group, pulse groups per second, energy generated by the one or more pairs of electrodes, arc frequency, arc current, and a voltage supplied to the one or more pairs of electrodes based on the measurement from the sensor to control a concentration of nitric oxide in the product gas to treat at least one of pulmonary fibrosis, infection, malaria, myocardial infarction, stroke, pulmonary hypertension, persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns, hypoxia as a result of explosive decompression of an aircraft or spacecraft, and high altitude pulmonary edema.

A method for generating nitric oxide (NO), the method comprising:

• providing a reactant gas containing nitrogen and oxygen to one or more pairs of electrodes,
• initiating a series of electric arcs in the one or more pairs of electrodes to synthesize the reactant gas to a product gas containing nitric oxide;
• measuring a flow of a gas in a respiratory system into which the product gas is provided;
• and
• adjusting one or more conditions associated with the one or more electrodes based on the measured flow of gas in the respiratory system to control a concentration of nitric oxide in the product gas to treat at least one of pulmonary fibrosis, infection, malaria, myocardial infarction, stroke, pulmonary hypertension, persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns, hypoxia as a result of explosive decompression of an aircraft or spacecraft, and high altitude pulmonary edema.