Claims for Patent: 6,758,214

Summary for Patent: 6,758,214

Title:	Simple nitric oxide generator for ambulatory and/or bedside inhaled no treatment
Abstract:	A nitric oxide delivery system for delivering nitric oxide to a patient to treat a medical condition includes a container, a nitric oxide generation chamber, and a pump. The container is designed to contain a nitrogen-containing compound. The nitric oxide generation chamber includes a heat source and is designed to generate nitric oxide from the nitrogen-containing compound. The pump is designed to transfer at least a part of the nitrogen-containing compound from the container to the nitric oxide generation chamber.
Inventor(s):	Fine; David H. (Lincoln, MA), Fraim; Freeman W. (Lexington, MA), Jarvis; George (Arlington, MA)
Assignee:	CyTerra Corporation (Waltham, MA)
Application Number:	09/769,766
Patent Claims:	1. A nitric oxide delivery system for delivering nitric oxide to a patient to treat a medical condition, the system comprising: a container configured to contain a nitrogen-containing compound; a nitric oxide generation chamber including a heat source and configured to generate nitric oxide from the nitrogen-containing compound; and a pump configured to transfer at least a part of the nitrogen-containing compound in the container to the nitric oxide generation chamber. 2. The nitric oxide delivery system of claim 1 further comprising a filter system positioned and configured to filter an impurity from the nitric oxide generated in the nitric oxide generation chamber. 3. The nitric oxide delivery system of claim 1 further comprising a cooling system positioned and configured to cool the nitric oxide generated in the nitric oxide generation chamber. 4. The nitric oxide delivery system of claim 1 further comprising a monitor system configured and positioned to monitor a concentration of nitric oxide and/or nitrogen dioxide output by the nitric oxide generation chamber. 5. The nitric oxide delivery system of claim 1 further comprising a control system configured to control a rate at which the pump transfers the nitrogen-containing compound in the container to the nitric oxide generation chamber. 6. The nitric oxide delivery system of claim 5 further comprising a monitor system configured and positioned to monitor a concentration of nitric oxide output by the nitric oxide generation chamber, wherein the control system is configured to control the operation of the pump to transfer the nitrogen-containing compound based on a nitric oxide concentration signal received from the monitor system. 7. The nitric oxide delivery system of claim 1 further comprising a breathing tube connectable to a patient and configured to deliver the nitric oxide to the patient. 8. The nitric oxide delivery system of claim 1 wherein the nitrogen-containing compound comprises ammonia. 9. The nitric oxide delivery system of claim 8 wherein the ammonia comprises a solid. 10. The nitric oxide delivery system of claim 8 wherein the ammonia comprises a gas. 11. The nitric oxide delivery system of claim 8 wherein the ammonia comprises a liquid. 12. The nitric oxide delivery system of claim 1 wherein the nitrogen-containing compound comprises a solid. 13. The nitric oxide delivery system of claim 1 wherein the nitrogen-containing compound comprises a gas. 14. The nitric oxide delivery system of claim 1 wherein the nitrogen-containing compound comprises a liquid. 15. The nitric oxide delivery system of claim 1 wherein the container includes a heater. 16. The nitric oxide delivery system of claim 1 wherein the container includes a metering valve. 17. The nitric oxide delivery system of claim 1 wherein the nitric oxide generation chamber include a catalyst. 18. The nitric oxide delivery system of claim 17 wherein the catalyst is heated. 19. The nitric oxide delivery system of claim 17 wherein the catalyst comprises nickel. 20. The nitric oxide delivery system of claim 17 wherein the catalyst comprises a noble metal. 21. The nitric oxide delivery system of claim 1 wherein the medical condition comprises vasoconstriction. 22. The nitric oxide delivery system of claim 5 wherein the controller controls the operation of the pump to transfer the nitrogen-containing compound in the container to the nitric oxide generation chamber such that a therapeutic dose of nitric oxide is generated in the nitric oxide generation chamber. 23. The nitric oxide delivery system of claim 22 wherein the therapeutic dose of nitric oxide comprises between approximately 1 ppm and 100 ppm nitric oxide. 24. The nitric oxide delivery system of claim 22 wherein the therapeutic dose of nitric oxide comprises between approximately 20 ppm and 80 ppm nitric oxide. 25. The nitric oxide delivery system of claim 22 wherein the container includes a container release mechanism that is configured to release the compound into a line and the pump passes a gas through the line to transfer the compound to the nitric oxide generation chamber. 26. The nitric oxide delivery system of claim 25 wherein the gas comprises oxygen. 27. The nitric oxide delivery system of claim 25 wherein the gas comprises air. 28. The nitric oxide delivery system of claim 25 wherein the container release mechanism comprises a metered valve. 29. The nitric oxide delivery system of claim 25 wherein the container release mechanism comprises a heater. 30. The nitric oxide delivery system of claim 1 wherein the patient is a human. 31. The nitric oxide delivery system of claim 1 wherein the patient is a horse.