Systems and methods for generating nitric oxide
Inventors
Gillerman, Ian J. • HALL, Gregory W. • Scholz, Wolfgang • Zapol, David G.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11376390-B2
Publication Date
2022-07-05
Expiration Date
Abstract
Systems and methods for nitric oxide generation are provided. In an embodiment, an NO generation system can include a controller and disposable cartridge that can provide nitric oxide to two different treatments simultaneously. The disposable cartridge has multiple purposes including preparing incoming gases for exposure to the NO generation process, scrubbing exhaust gases for unwanted materials, characterizing the patient inspiratory flow, and removing moisture from sample gases collected. Plasma generation can be done within the cartridge or within the controller. The system has the capability of calibrating NO and NO2 gas analysis sensors without the use of a calibration gas.
Core Innovation
The invention is directed to nitric oxide (NO) generation and delivery in ventilation devices. The system includes at least one plasma chamber configured to generate a product gas containing nitric oxide from a flow of a reactant gas, and the product gas is directed into an inspiratory gas of a ventilator circuit so that at least a portion of the product gas flows into the inspiratory gas.
A controller regulates the amount of nitric oxide in the product gas using one or more parameters as input to a control algorithm. The parameters include information relating to at least one of the reactant gas, the product gas, and an inspiratory gas into which at least a portion of the product gas flows.
The controller is configured to deliver a target number of inhaled NO molecules per unit time by varying a number of molecules of NO delivered within each breath of the inspiratory gas from zero to a maximum value. The disclosure also describes ionizing a reactant gas in a plasma chamber to generate a plasma for producing a product gas containing nitric oxide, and controlling the amount of nitric oxide in the product gas using one or more parameters as input to a control algorithm.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover three related aspects: a NO generation system, a NO generation method, and a NO delivery method. Across the independent claims, the core inventive feature is regulation of inhaled NO delivery by using a control algorithm with parameters tied to the reactant gas, product gas, and inspiratory gas, and by varying NO molecules delivered within each breath from zero to a maximum value to achieve a target number of inhaled NO molecules per unit time.
Plasma chamber generating a nitric oxide product gas
At least one plasma chamber configured to generate a product gas containing nitric oxide from a flow of a reactant gas.
Controller regulating nitric oxide using control algorithm parameters
At least one controller configured to regulate the amount of nitric oxide in the product gas using one or more parameters as an input to a control algorithm, wherein the parameters include information relating to at least one of the reactant gas, the product gas, and an inspiratory gas into which at least a portion of the product gas flows.
Target inhaled NO molecules per unit time via breath-by-breath variation from zero to maximum
The controller is configured to deliver a target number of inhaled NO molecules per unit time by varying a number of molecules of NO delivered within each breath of the inspiratory gas from zero to a maximum value.
Ionizing a reactant gas in a plasma chamber to generate an NO product gas
Ionizing a reactant gas in a plasma chamber to generate a plasma for producing a product gas containing nitric oxide within a flow comprising the reactant gas.
Controlling nitric oxide amount using control algorithm with reactant, product, and inspiratory parameters
Controlling the amount of nitric oxide in the product gas using one or more parameters as input to a control algorithm used by one or more controllers to control the plasma chamber, wherein at least one parameter is related to information relating to at least one of the reactant gas, the product gas, and an inspiratory gas into which at least a portion of the product gas flows.
Controlling nitric oxide introduced into inspiratory flow
Providing a gas flow of nitric oxide and controlling an amount of nitric oxide introduced into an inspiratory flow using one or more parameters as input to a control algorithm used by one or more controllers, wherein at least one parameter is related to information relating to at least one of the reactant gas, the product gas, and an inspiratory gas into which at least a portion of the product gas flows.
Overall, the independent claims focus on regulating NO delivery by using a control algorithm with inputs related to the reactant gas, product gas, and inspiratory gas, and by varying the number of NO molecules delivered within each breath from zero to a maximum value to achieve a target number of inhaled NO molecules per unit time. The claims separately cover system structure, the generation method, and the delivery method.
Stated Advantages
Reduced calibration time.
Improved NO2 control.
Reduced pneumatic connections and reduced user confusion.
Continued delivery during certain UI/control failures.
Delivers a target number of inhaled NO molecules per unit time by varying NO molecules delivered within each breath from zero to a maximum value.
Provides control algorithm-based regulation of nitric oxide using parameters relating to the reactant gas, the product gas, and an inspiratory gas.
Enables NO delivery control in both generation and delivery contexts using controllers responsive to inputs related to reactant, product, and inspiratory gas.
Documented Applications
NO generation and NO delivery in ventilation devices, where product gas flows into an inspiratory gas in a ventilator circuit.
Delivery of NO to an inspiratory flow using a controlled introduction of nitric oxide gas flow.
Integration into ventilators, anesthesia machines, C-PAP, oxygen concentrators, monitors, ECMO, and ambulatory cannula-based delivery with respiration-sensing and safety/usage tracking.
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