Nitrogen Dioxide Storage Cassette for Portable Nitric Oxide Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing nitric oxide delivery systems are large, cumbersome, and not suitable for ambulatory or home use, posing safety risks due to the formation of toxic nitrogen dioxide, which can be dangerous if inhaled.

Innovation Solution

A portable, disposable cassette system that converts nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide using a sealed housing with porous solid matrices and inerting chambers, incorporating safety features like inerting materials and heaters to minimize exposure and ensure safe delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If nitric oxide is supplied in bottled gaseous form diluted in nitrogen gas, then therapeutic delivery is enabled, but the system becomes large and cumbersome for ambulatory use

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveportabilityVSAvoidsystem size

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into separate functional modules: a storage canister for nitrogen dioxide, a conversion device with porous solid matrix, and a delivery system. This segmentation allows the bulky storage component to be separated from the portable delivery unit, enabling ambulatory use while maintaining therapeutic capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the nitrogen dioxide storage function into a separate sealed canister, removing it from the immediate delivery system. This allows the delivery device to be compact and portable while the storage canister remains stationary or is carried separately, resolving the contradiction between portability and storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If nitrogen dioxide is present in the system, then nitric oxide can be generated, but toxic nitrogen dioxide may form and be inhaled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenitric oxide generationVSAvoidtoxicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A porous solid matrix serves as an intermediary between nitrogen dioxide and the final nitric oxide delivery. This matrix facilitates controlled conversion of nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide, ensuring that toxic nitrogen dioxide is transformed before patient exposure while maintaining efficient nitric oxide generation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains an inert atmosphere within the conversion device, controlling the chemical environment to prevent formation of toxic nitrogen dioxide intermediates. By managing the atmospheric conditions during conversion, the system ensures safe transformation while preserving therapeutic nitric oxide production.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

3Adaptability or versatility

If oxygen is present with nitric oxide, then the system can function in ambient conditions, but nitric oxide oxidizes to toxic nitrogen dioxide

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveambient operationVSAvoidchemical stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary conversion of nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide within the sealed conversion device before exposure to ambient air. By completing the chemical transformation in a controlled environment prior to delivery, the system enables ambient operation while preventing oxidation reactions that would compromise chemical stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful interaction between oxygen and nitric oxide into a beneficial process by controlling the sequence of reactions. Nitrogen dioxide is first converted to nitric oxide in an oxygen-limited environment, then the stable nitric oxide is delivered to patients where it can function therapeutically without immediate oxidation, turning the oxygen-nitric oxide reactivity issue into a manageable process step.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 cassette system provides a safe and portable means to deliver nitric oxide, reducing the risk of nitrogen dioxide exposure and enabling ambulatory or home use by converting nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide efficiently.

Implementation Method 1

a porous solid matrix including a reducing agent, the porous solid matrix being positioned within the first cartridge such that there is a space between the body of the first cartridge and the porous solid matrix

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical reduction: Reduction

Implementation Method 2

an inerting chamber including an inerting material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentUS20250295883A1Nitrogen dioxide storage device

Publication Date: 2025.09.25 VERO BIOTECH INC

AI summary

A nitric oxide delivery system can include a cassette which is a single use disposable component used to store liquid N2O4 activate upon operator demand, convert N2O4 to NO2 via a heating element(s) controlled by a console to deliver NO2 at a controlled flow rate, direct concentrated NO2 to a contained pair of conversion cartridges and exhaust NO gas to the console for delivery to the patient.