Systems and methods for indicating lifetime of an NO2-to-NO reactor cartridge used to deliver NO for inhalation therapy to a patient
Inventors
Acker, Jaron • Asif, Muhammad • Flanagan, Craig • Greene, Douglas Alan • Ridley, Sarah Jayne • Schweighardt, Frank Kenneth • Sheu, Lien-Lung
Assignees
Mallinckrodt Pharma IP Trading DAC • Therakos Inc • INO Therapeutics LLC • Mallinckrodt Critical Care Finance Inc
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Publication Number
US-10525226-B2
Publication Date
2020-01-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
The principles and embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems for safely providing NO to a recipient for inhalation therapy. There are many potential safety issues that may arise from using a reactor cartridge that converts NO2 to NO, including exhaustion of consumable reactants of the cartridge reactor. Accordingly, various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods of determining the remaining useful life of a NO2-to-NO reactor cartridge and/or a break-through of NO2, and providing an indication of the remaining useful life and/or break-through.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a system for safely delivering a supply of nitric oxide (NO) to a recipient by supplying nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from a gas source, converting the NO2 to NO using a NO2-to-NO reactor cartridge with a consumable conversion media, and delivering NO gas through a delivery conduit to the recipient. The system includes one or more sensor probe(s) embedded into the consumable conversion media, including a moisture sensor configured to determine an amount of moisture present in the consumable conversion media.
A computer receives electronic signals from the embedded sensor probe(s) and calculates a performance value. The performance value is used with regulating means to control the delivery of gas to the recipient, including control based on the performance value and comparison with a predetermined threshold value. In operation described in the document, the regulating means halts the delivery when the performance value falls below the threshold value.
The invention further monitors performance of the NO2-to-NO reactor cartridge by incorporating the embedded sensor probe(s) into the conversion media and associating at least one meter with the sensor probe(s) to calculate the performance value from electronic signals. Additional monitoring approaches described include determining cartridge functioning related to conversion performance and break-through, and sensor probe(s) detecting or measuring multiple concentrations and conditions including ascorbic acid, dehydroascorbic acid, water, nitrogen oxides, oxygen, nitric acid, pH, redox potentials, gas mass flow rate, and conductance at the surface of silica gel in a NO2-to-NO reactor cartridge.
Claims Coverage
The provided document includes three independent claims. Across them, the main inventive structure is embedded moisture sensing in consumable conversion media, performance-value calculation from sensor signals, and electronic threshold-based control of regulating means for safe delivery.
Embedded moisture sensing in consumable conversion media for NO2-to-NO cartridge monitoring
The system includes one or more sensor probe(s) configured to monitor functioning of the NO2-to-NO reactor cartridge operatively associated with the NO2-to-NO reactor cartridge, wherein the one or more sensor probe(s) is embedded into the consumable conversion media and wherein the one or more sensor probe(s) is a moisture sensor configured to determine an amount of moisture present in the consumable conversion media.
Performance value calculation from sensor electronic signals
A computer in electronic communication with the one or more sensor probe(s) over a communication path, wherein the computer is configured to receive electronic signals from the one or more sensor probe(s) and calculate a performance value.
Regulating means controlled based on performance value
A regulating means in electronic communication with the computer over a communication path, wherein the regulating means is controlled based on the performance value.
Threshold comparison generating actuating signal
The computer is configured to receive electronic signals from the one or more sensor probe(s) and calculate a performance value for comparison with a predetermined threshold value, and configured to generate an actuating signal when the performance value falls below the threshold value.
Regulating means halts delivery when performance falls below threshold
The regulating means is configured to receive the actuating signal from the computer, and wherein the regulating means halts the delivery of the gas to a recipient.
The independent claims collectively cover safe NO delivery using an NO2-to-NO reactor cartridge with consumable conversion media, embedded moisture sensing, calculation of a performance value from sensor probe electronic signals, and electronic control of regulating means, including threshold-based halting of delivery when the performance value falls below a predetermined threshold value.
Stated Advantages
Safely delivering nitric oxide (NO) to a recipient.
Preventing delivery of gas to a recipient when the performance value falls below a predetermined threshold value.
Monitoring the performance of the NO2-to-NO reactor cartridge by embedding a moisture sensor probe into the conversion media.
Allowing computer-based calculation of a performance value from sensor electronic signals for regulating control.
Providing user alerting when a NO2-to-NO reactor cartridge is exhausted or compromised (via display and/or audible alarm).
Documented Applications
Bedside monitoring and safe NO delivery in an NO delivery system that includes an NO2-to-NO reactor cartridge and delivery conduit to a recipient, using embedded sensor probes and computer-based performance-value control to avoid NO2 reaching the recipient.
Method of monitoring performance of a nitrogen dioxide (NO2)-to-nitric oxide (NO) reactor cartridge by incorporating an embedded moisture sensor probe into conversion media, calculating a performance value, and controlling regulating means based on the performance value.
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