Systems and methods for ambulatory generation of nitric oxide
Inventors
Zapol, David G. • HALL, Gregory W. • Scholz, Wolfgang • Apollonio, Benjamin • Heirtzler, Frank • Ferencz, Andrew
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11911566-B2
Publication Date
2024-02-27
Expiration Date
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for portable and compact nitric oxide (NO) generation that can be embedded into other therapeutic devices or used alone. In some embodiments, an ambulatory NO generation system can be comprised of a controller and disposable cartridge. The cartridge can contain filters and scavengers for preparing the gas used for NO generation and for scrubbing output gases prior to patient inhalation. The system can utilize an oxygen concentrator to increase nitric oxide production and compliment oxygen generator activity as an independent device. The system can also include a high voltage electrode assembly that is easily assembled and installed. Various nitric oxide delivery methods are provided, including the use of a nasal cannula.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an ambulatory, portable electric nitric oxide generation system configured to deliver NO-enriched gas to a patient via a nasal cannula. A controller regulates operation while a disposable cartridge prepares reactant gas and product gas for delivery, including removal of particulate and removal of nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The system is arranged to support pulsatile delivery synchronized to respiration, including breath detection based on differential pressure.
The disposable cartridge includes one or more reactant gas flow paths with inlet filters and/or scavengers to remove particulate from the reactant gas and, in further refinements, to remove organic compounds from the reactant gas. The cartridge also includes one or more product gas flow paths that include outlet scrubbers and/or filters to remove NO2 from the product gas and to remove particulate from the product gas before delivery. The cartridge removably couples product gas flow paths to the NO generator using pneumatic connections.
The disclosed electric NO system can integrate with an oxygen concentrator and/or oxygen generator, and the controller supports dosing using sensors and controller algorithms for breath detection and NO delivery regulation. The system architecture includes an easily assembled high-voltage electrode/plasma chamber architecture and supports electrical control of an AC waveform, including resonant frequency measurement and control. Optional recirculation and a recirculating scrubber are described to limit NO2 residence time, and cartridge identification with life management, user interface/alerts, connectivity, and docking/charging/calibration concepts are included.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover three main areas: disposable cartridge-based purification of reactant gas and product gas, an NO system using that cartridge with controller regulation, and a method of filtering and scrubbing gas using the disposable cartridge and an NO generator. Across the independent claims, the inventive features are centered on disposable cartridge gas-path purification, removable pneumatic coupling to an NO generator, and controller-based regulation in the system/method context.
Disposable cartridge with particulate-removal reactant flow paths and NO2-removal product flow paths
The disposable cartridge comprises one or more reactant gas flow paths configured to prepare a reactant gas with at least one filter to remove particulate from the reactant gas, and one or more product gas flow paths configured to prepare a product gas containing NO with at least one scrubber to remove NO2 and at least one filter to remove particulate from the product gas.
Removably coupled pneumatic outlet for product gas
The disposable cartridge includes at least one product gas outlet pneumatic connection configured to removably couple the one or more product gas flow paths in the disposable cartridge to an NO generator of the NO generation system.
NO system with disposable cartridge for ionizing reactant gas and preparing NO-containing product gas
The NO system comprises a disposable cartridge for use with a NO generator configured to ionize a reactant gas into a product gas containing NO, where the disposable cartridge includes one or more reactant gas flow paths with at least one filter to remove particulate from the reactant gas and one or more product gas flow paths with at least one scrubber to remove NO2 from the product gas and at least one filter to remove particulate from the product gas.
Removably coupled pneumatic reactant gas connection and pneumatic product gas connections
The disposable cartridge includes at least one reactant gas pneumatic connection to removably couple the reactant gas flow paths to the NO generator to deliver the reactant gas, at least one product gas inlet pneumatic connection to removably couple the product gas flow paths to the NO generator to receive the product gas, and at least one product gas outlet pneumatic connection to removably couple the product gas flow paths to the NO generator.
Controller regulating amount of nitric oxide using input parameters
The NO system includes a controller that communicates with a NO generator to regulate the amount of nitric oxide supplied using one or more input parameters.
Method preparing reactant gas and scrubbing organic compounds and particulates in disposable cartridge
The method prepares a reactant gas to be used to generate nitric oxide by an NO generator using one or more reactant gas flow paths in a disposable cartridge, where the reactant gas flow path includes at least one scrubber configured to remove organic compounds from the reactant gas and at least one filter configured to remove particulate from the reactant gas.
Method ionizing reactant gas and preparing NO-containing product gas with NO2 and particulate removal
The method ionizes the reactant gas using the NO generator to generate a product gas containing NO, and prepares the product gas using the one or more product gas flow paths in the disposable cartridge, where the product gas flow path includes at least one scrubber configured to remove NO2 from the product gas and at least one filter configured to remove particulate from the product gas.
Across the independent claims, the core claim coverage is disposable cartridge-based purification of a reactant gas and an NO-containing product gas, including particulate removal from the reactant gas and both NO2 removal and particulate removal in the product gas, together with removable pneumatic coupling to an NO generator. In the system and method context, controller-based regulation using input parameters and preparing the product gas for patient delivery are included.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
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