Electrodes for nitric oxide generation
Inventors
HALL, Gregory W. • Gillerman, Ian J. • Mohsenian, Sina • Ortiz, Aubrey • Miles, Christopher • Scholz, Wolfgang • Young, Adam J. • Apollonio, Benjamin • Elghazzawi, Ziad F.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11478601-B2
Publication Date
2022-10-25
Expiration Date
Abstract
Systems and methods for nitric oxide (NO) generation systems are provided. In some embodiments, an NO generation system comprises at least one pair of electrodes configured to generate a product gas containing NO from a flow of a reactant gas. The electrodes have elongated surfaces such that a plasma produced is carried by the flow of the reactant gas and glides along the elongated surfaces from a first end towards a second end of the electrode pair. A controller is configured to regulate the amount of NO in the product gas by the at least one pair of electrodes using one or more parameters as an input to the controller. The one or more parameters include information from a plurality of sensors configured to collect information relating to at least one of the reactant gas, the product gas, and a medical gas into which the product gas flows.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a nitric oxide (NO) generation system that generates a product gas containing NO from a flow of a reactant gas using at least one pair of electrodes. The at least one pair of electrodes has a first end and a second end with a length therebetween such that a plasma produced is carried by the flow of the reactant gas and glides along the length of the at least one pair of electrodes from the first end towards the second end.
A controller regulates the amount of nitric oxide in the product gas produced by the at least one pair of electrodes using one or more parameters as an input to the controller. The one or more parameters include information from a plurality of sensors configured to collect information relating to at least one of the reactant gas, the product gas, and a medical gas into which the product gas flows.
In another aspect, the invention includes a plasma chamber and at least one nozzle through which the reactant gas flows into the plasma chamber to the at least one pair of electrodes. The replaceable cartridge is configured to include the plasma chamber and the at least one pair of electrodes, and the replaceable cartridge has one or more connections for removably connecting the replaceable cartridge to the controller.
Claims Coverage
The document contains two independent claims, each covering a nitric oxide (NO) generation system with a gliding plasma along electrode length and controller-based regulation using inputs from a plurality of sensors. Across the independent claims, the core inventive features are the electrode-and-gliding-plasma configuration, sensor-driven controller regulation of NO in product gas, and mechanical cartridge integration; one independent claim further adds nozzle-fed plasma chamber structure.
Gliding plasma along electrode length in a NO generation system
At least one pair of electrodes configured to generate a product gas containing NO from a flow of a reactant gas, the at least one pair of electrodes having a first end and second end with a length therebetween such that a plasma produced is carried by the flow of the reactant gas and glides along the length of the at least one pair of electrodes from the first end towards the second end.
Sensor-driven controller regulation of nitric oxide in product gas
A controller configured to regulate the amount of nitric oxide in the product gas produced by the at least one pair of electrodes using one or more parameters as an input to the controller, the one or more parameters including information from a plurality of sensors configured to collect information relating to at least one of the reactant gas, the product gas, and a medical gas into which the product gas flows.
Replaceable cartridge with removable connection to the controller
The at least one pair of electrodes are positioned in a replaceable cartridge having one or more connections for removably connecting the replaceable cartridge to the controller.
Nozzle-fed plasma chamber
A plasma chamber comprising at least one nozzle through which the reactant gas flows into the plasma chamber to the at least one pair of electrodes.
Both independent claims are centered on producing NO-containing product gas by using a gliding plasma carried by reactant gas along electrode length, and regulating the amount of nitric oxide using sensor inputs from reactant gas, product gas, and a medical gas. The claims further require packaging in a replaceable cartridge with removably connecting connections, and one independent claim additionally specifies a nozzle-fed plasma chamber.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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