Ascorbic Acid Coated Recuperator for NO2 to NO Conversion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to safely and effectively deliver nitric oxide (NO) for therapeutic use while avoiding the formation and delivery of toxic nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which is formed by the oxidation of NO with oxygen, and to provide a system that converts NO2 back to NO to ensure safe and effective treatment.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a surface-active material coated with an aqueous solution of ascorbic acid and an absorbent, such as silica gel, to convert NO2 to NO, and a NO2 scavenger like proline to remove any remaining NO2, along with a recuperator that further converts NO2 to NO before delivery, ensuring low NO2 levels and efficient NO delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If nitric oxide (NO) is delivered for therapeutic use, then pulmonary hypertension is reduced through vasodilation, but nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is formed by oxidation which is highly toxic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful oxidation reaction that produces toxic NO2 into a beneficial process by deliberately introducing NO2 into the gas mixture and then using a catalytic converter to convert it back to therapeutic NO. The ascorbic acid-coated surface acts as a catalyst to facilitate this conversion, turning a harmful side reaction into a controlled therapeutic mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces NO2 as an intermediate substance that is subsequently converted to the desired therapeutic agent NO. The ascorbic acid coating serves as a mediator that facilitates the conversion of NO2 to NO through a surface-mediated reaction, ensuring that the intermediate does not reach the patient in toxic concentrations.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If ascorbic acid is used to convert NO2 to NO, then NO2 levels are reduced, but by-products of ascorbic acid oxidation are formed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the harmful oxidation by-products from the gas mixture by using an absorbent material that selectively captures these by-products while allowing the therapeutic NO and excess oxygen to pass through. This extraction ensures that only beneficial substances reach the patient.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different functional coatings to different regions of the gas delivery system - ascorbic acid on the surface for NO2 conversion and absorbent material in the gas flow path for by-product removal. Each region has a specialized function that addresses a specific harmful effect locally.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a recuperator is added to convert NO2 to NO, then NO2 levels are reduced to below 0.1 ppm, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated recuperator device that simultaneously performs NO2 conversion to NO and removal of oxidation by-products. The ascorbic acid coating and absorbent material work together in one device to achieve both conversion and purification functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The recuperator serves multiple functions: it converts NO2 to therapeutic NO, removes oxidation by-products, and delivers the purified gas mixture to the patient. This multi-functional design reduces the need for separate devices for each function.
4Ease of operation
If bottled NO gas is used, then therapeutic NO is delivered, but oxygen must be strictly excluded to prevent NO2 formation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of trying to prevent oxygen from reacting with NO (the conventional approach), the patent inverts the strategy by deliberately allowing oxidation to occur and then using a catalytic converter to convert the resulting NO2 back to NO. This approach makes the system tolerant of oxygen presence while still delivering therapeutic NO.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively converts NO2 to NO, reducing toxic NO2 levels to below 0.1 ppm, ensuring safe delivery of therapeutic NO concentrations with low flow resistance and operating at atmospheric pressure, suitable for medical applications.
Implementation Method 1
a surface-active material coated with an aqueous solution of ascorbic acid... wherein the inlet is configured to receive a gas flow and fluidly communicate the gas flow to the outlet through the surface-active material and the absorbent such that nitrogen dioxide in the gas flow is converted to nitric oxide
Implementation Method 2
an absorbent, wherein the inlet is configured to receive a gas flow and fluidly communicate the gas flow to the outlet through the surface-active material and the absorbent... to eliminate the by-products of ascorbic acid oxidation
Data Source
AI summary
Various systems, devices, NO2 absorbents, NO2 scavengers and NO2 recuperator for generating nitric oxide are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, an apparatus for converting nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide can include a receptacle including an inlet, an outlet, a surface-active material coated with an aqueous solution of ascorbic acid and an absorbent wherein the inlet is configured to receive a gas flow and fluidly communicate the gas flow to the outlet through the surface-active material and the absorbent such that nitrogen dioxide in the gas flow is converted to nitric oxide.