# US 9,872,953 B2 · Nitric oxide delivery devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,872,953 B2 - Document ID: US9872953B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/388,482 - Filed: 2013-03-28 - Published: 2015-03-12 - Granted: 2018-01-23 - Earliest claimed: 2012-03-30 - Assignees: The Regents of the University of Michigan - Applicants: The Regents of the University of Michigan - Inventors: Lajos Hofler; Mark E. Meyerhoff; Dipankar Koley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9872953B2 ## CPC - A61M 5/14: Infusion devices, e.g. infusing by gravity; Blood infusion; Accessories therefor - A61K 33/00: Medicinal preparations containing inorganic active ingredients - A61M 25/00: Catheters; Hollow probes (dilators A61M29/00; {peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00} ; for measuring or testing A61B; {materials for catheters A61L29/00}) - A61M 25/0043: {characterised by structural features} - C01B 21/24: Nitric oxide (NO) {(C01B21/203 takes precedence)} - C25B 1/01: Products - C25B 15/08: Supplying or removing reactants or electrolytes; Regeneration of electrolytes - A61M 2025/0057: {Catheters delivering medicament other than through a conventional lumen, e.g. porous walls or hydrogel coatings} - A61M 2202/0275: Nitric oxide [NO] - A61M 2205/0233: Conductive materials, e.g. antistatic coatings for spark prevention - A61M 2205/0272: Electro-active or magneto-active materials - 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) - C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C} - C25B: ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR (anodic or cathodic protection C23F13/00; single-crystal growth C30B) ## Abstract A nitric oxide delivery device includes a housing that is permeable to nitric oxide. A working electrode (which is a copper-containing conductive material or a base material coated with a copper-containing conductive material) is positioned inside of the housing. A conductive lead is electrically connected to the working electrode and extends outside of the housing. A reference electrode and/or a counter electrode is electrically isolated from the working electrode. The reference electrode and/or the counter electrode has a first portion that is inside of the housing and a second conductive portion that is outside of the housing. A source of nitrite ions is to be contained within the housing such that it is in contact with the working electrode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for generating nitric oxide, comprising: applying a cathodic voltage to a working electrode inside of an interior space defined by a polymeric housing through a conductive lead that extends outside of the polymeric housing, the interior space of the polymeric housing containing an aqueous solution or hydrogel including the source of nitrite ions that is in contact with the working electrode, and the working electrode being a copper-containing conductive material or a base material coated with a copper-containing conductive material; and applying an anodic voltage to the working electrode, thereby locally producing Cu(I) ions at a surface of the working electrode that react with nitrite from the source of nitrite ions to form nitric oxide gas. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the polymeric housing is formed of a material that is permeable to nitric oxide gas, and wherein the method further comprises controlling release of nitric oxide gas by controlling when the voltages are applied to the working electrode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising modulating a flux of nitric oxide that is generated by any of altering an amount of a surface area of the working electrode that is exposed to the source of nitrite ions or altering a concentration of nitrite in the source of nitrite ions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising modulating a flux of nitric oxide that is generated by altering a magnitude of the anodic voltage pulse. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the applying of the anodic voltage to the working electrode is accomplished for a predetermined time ranging from about 1 second to about 10 minutes. ### Claim 6 A method for generating nitric oxide, comprising: applying a cathodic voltage to a working electrode inside of a polymeric housing through a conductive lead that extends outside of the polymeric housing, the polymeric housing containing a source of nitrite ions that is in contact with the working electrode, and the working electrode being a copper-containing conductive material or a base material coated with a copper-containing conductive material; and applying an anodic voltage to the working electrode, thereby locally producing Cu(I) ions at a surface of the working electrode that react with nitrite from the source of nitrite ions to form nitric oxide gas; wherein the applying of the cathodic voltage to the working electrode is accomplished for a predetermined time ranging from about 1 second to about 10 minutes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method as defined in claim 6 wherein the polymeric housing is formed of a material that is permeable to nitric oxide gas, and wherein the method further comprises controlling release of nitric oxide gas by controlling when the voltages are applied to the working electrode. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method as defined in claim 6, further comprising modulating a flux of nitric oxide that is generated by any of altering an amount of a surface area of the working electrode that is exposed to the source of nitrite ions or altering a concentration of nitrite in the source of nitrite ions or altering a magnitude of the anodic voltage pulse. ### Claim 9 A method for generating nitric oxide, comprising: applying a cathodic voltage to a working electrode inside of a polymeric housing through a conductive lead that extends outside of the polymeric housing, the polymeric housing containing a source of nitrite ions that is in contact with the working electrode, and the working electrode being a copper-containing conductive material or a base material coated with a copper-containing conductive material; and applying an anodic voltage to the working electrode, thereby locally producing Cu(I) ions at a surface of the working electrode that react with nitrite from the source of nitrite ions to form nitric oxide gas; wherein the applying of the anodic voltage to the working electrode for a predetermined time results in the working electrode becoming passivated, and wherein the method further comprises applying another cathodic voltage to the working electrode to clean the working electrode. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method as defined in claim 9 wherein after the working electrode is cleaned, the method further comprises applying another anodic voltage to the working electrode, thereby again locally producing Cu(I) ions at the surface of the working electrode which react with nitrite from the source of nitrite ions to form nitric oxide gas. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method as defined in claim 9 wherein the polymeric housing is formed of a material that is permeable to nitric oxide gas, and wherein the method further comprises controlling release of nitric oxide gas by controlling when the voltages are applied to the working electrode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method as defined in claim 9, further comprising modulating a flux of nitric oxide that is generated by any of altering an amount of a surface area of the working electrode that is exposed to the source of nitrite ions or altering a concentration of nitrite in the source of nitrite ions or altering a magnitude of the anodic voltage pulse.