Generation of nitric oxide from air for medical uses
AssigneeThe General Hospital Corporation
InventorWarren M. Zapol
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for producing a mixture comprising nitric oxide and air for treatment of medical conditions. The invention enables unlimited production of nitric oxide at any location using only air and a source of electricity. An electric arc chamber 4 is provided with electrodes 5 separated by an air gap 9. An electric circuit 7 supplies a high voltage potential to the electrodes 5 and induces an electric arc discharge across the electrodes 5. The electric arc discharge produces nitric oxide mixed with air. The mixture of nitric oxide and air is further purified and blended with other gases and/or pulmonary therapeutic agents, and the therapeutically-effective gas mixture is delivered to different organs of a human body using organ specific attachments.
Claims25
An inhaler producing a mixture comprising air and nitric oxide for respiratory therapy, said inhaler utilizing air and a source of electricity, said inhaler comprising
- an electric arc chamber with a pair of electrodes separated by an air gap, for producing nitric oxide by an arc discharge between said electrodes,
- an electric circuit for supplying a high voltage potential to said electrodes, said high voltage potential having a peak value sufficient to induce an electric arc across said air gap,
- a gas input port for introducing air into said electric arc chamber, thereby producing a mixture of air and NO, and
- an output port for dispensing said produced mixture for inhaling by a patient,
- said output port and said electric arc chamber being sized and positioned so that said produced mixture is immediately dispensed from said output port.
A system for continuously producing a mixture, comprising air and nitric oxide for treatment of medical conditions requiring direct delivery of said mixture to an organ of the human body, said system comprising
- an electric arc chamber with a pair of electrodes separated by an air gap, for producing nitric oxide by arc discharge between said electrodes,
- an electric circuit for supplying a high voltage potential to said electrodes, said high voltage potential having a peak value sufficient to induce an electric arc across said air gap,
- an gas input port for introducing air or ventilatory gases into said electric arc chamber, thereby producing a mixture of air and NO, and
- a delivery system for dispensing said produced mixture to an organ of the human body,
- said delivery system and said electric arc chamber being sized and positioned so that said produced mixture is immediately dispensed from said output port.
A method of producing a mixture comprising air and nitric oxide for respiratory therapy, said method utilizing air and a source of electricity, comprising the steps of:
- introducing air through an air input port into an electric arc chamber of an inhaler,
- supplying high voltage potential to a set of electrodes separated by an air gap and located in said electric arc chamber, said high voltage potential having a peak value sufficient to induce an electric arc across said air gap,
- producing a mixture of air and nitric oxide by an arc discharge between said electrodes charged to said high voltage potential, and
- immediately dispensing said produced mixture through an output port for immediate use for respiratory therapy.
A method of producing nitric oxide for treatment of medical conditions by utilizing direct organ specific delivery of said gas mixture, comprising the steps of:
- introducing air through an air input port into an electric arc chamber of said system,
- supplying high voltage potential to a set of electrodes separated by an air gap and located in said electric arc chamber, said high voltage potential having a peak value sufficient to induce an electric arc across said air gap,
- producing a mixture of air and nitric oxide by an arc discharge between said electrodes charged to said high voltage potential, and
- immediately dispensing said produced nitric oxide mixed with air through a delivery system designed for immediately dispensing said gas mixture to a specific organ of a patient's body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.