Cooled Nitric Oxide Generator Plasma Discharge Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current nitric oxide (NO) generation systems for medical applications lack portability, efficiency, and safety, particularly in cooling mechanisms to maintain NO generators at safe temperatures for patient use, and fail to effectively diffuse NO while preventing exhaled CO2 from entering the system.
Innovation Solution
A portable nitric oxide generation system that includes a housing with electrodes for electric plasma discharge, a scavenger housing with filters, and a pump for fluid flow to cool the generator and aid NO diffusion, with a controller to manage power and fluid flow based on inspiration events and temperature, ensuring safe and efficient NO production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If electric plasma discharge is used to generate nitric oxide, then nitric oxide production efficiency is improved, but generator temperature increases to unsafe levels
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful heat generated during plasma discharge is extracted and removed from the system through a dedicated cooling mechanism. A fluid flow path is established that passes through or around the reaction chamber, actively carrying away excess thermal energy while allowing the plasma generation to continue at high efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
A cooling fluid acts as an intermediary substance between the hot generator components and the surrounding environment. This fluid absorbs heat from the generator housing and reaction chamber, then transports it away through designated flow paths, enabling continuous high-power operation without dangerous temperature accumulation.
2Temperature
If fluid flow is increased to cool the generator, then temperature control is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid flow system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it cools the generator housing, removes heat from the reaction chamber, and may also influence gas flow dynamics within the reaction zone. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated cooling components, thereby limiting complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses readily available ambient air or simple fluid sources that require minimal processing or special handling. The cooling fluid flows through passive pathways designed into the housing, utilizing natural convection or simple pump-driven flow without requiring complex temperature control systems or multiple fluid handling subsystems.
3Temperature
If continuous fluid flow is used to cool the generator, then temperature stability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous cooling, the system employs periodic or cyclic cooling cycles that are synchronized with the plasma discharge operation. Cooling fluid flow is activated during high-power discharge phases and reduced or stopped during low-power intervals, maintaining temperature stability while significantly reducing the average energy required for cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system dynamically adjusts fluid flow rate, temperature, or pressure parameters in response to generator operating conditions. During high-power plasma generation, cooling parameters are intensified; during low-power or idle periods, cooling is reduced, optimizing the balance between temperature stability and energy consumption.
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 provides reliable, safe, and efficient generation of NO at the point-of-care, maintaining the generator at safe temperatures, preventing CO2 degradation, and facilitating NO diffusion, thus reducing energy consumption and extending scavenger lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
a pump configured to provide fluid flow and a flow tube configured to provide fluid communication between the pump and the reaction chamber. The fluid flow provided from the pump to the reaction chamber is configured to cool the nitric oxide generator
Implementation Method 2
The controller is configured to selectively instruct the power supply to provide power to the pair of electrodes to generate one or more electric discharges therebetween to generate nitric oxide within the reaction chamber
Implementation Method 3
The fluid flow provided from the pump to the reaction chamber is configured to cool the nitric oxide generator and aid in the diffusion of the generated nitric oxide from the reaction chamber
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for a nitric oxide (NO) generation system are provided. In particular, the present disclosure provide an NO generation system that is configured to be cooled to maintain an NO generator of the system at or below temperatures safe for patient use and contact. In some non-limiting examples, the NO generation system may include a pump configured to furnish a fluid (e.g., a gas) toward and/or through the NO generator to provide cooling thereto.