Development of a portable mini-generator to safely produce nitric oxide for the treatment of infants with pulmonary hypertension

Abstract

The mini-NO generator safely produced therapeutic levels of NO from air. The mini-NO generator is an effective and economical approach to producing NO for treating neonatal pulmonary hypertension and will increase the accessibility and therapeutic uses of life-saving NO therapy worldwide.

Inhaled nitric oxide

“…To develop a lighter NO generator for potential portable, outpatient use, we designed a miniaturized version of the prototypic NO generator, designated the ‘mini‐NO generator’ (Yu et al ., 2018). The mini‐NO generator weighs approximately 14 g and consists of two iridium electrodes within a ceramic insulator surrounded by a 3 mm aluminium housing.…”

“…We showed that a small amount of Ca(OH) 2 scavenger (0.8 g) was sufficient to remove potentially toxic gases. Scanning electron microscopy and energy‐disperse X‐ray spectroscopy measurements demonstrated that a single HEPA filter was sufficient to remove all trace metal particles produced during prolonged NO generation (Yu et al ., 2018). An airflow of 70 mL·min −1 was sufficient to maintain the housing of the mini‐NO device at an acceptable low temperature during prolonged NO generation.…”

Inhaled Pulmonary Vasodilators in the Neonatal and Pediatric ICU

“…77 The system uses an antioxidant reactor scrubber that minimizes NO 2 . The AirNOvent (AIT Therapeutics) 78 and eNO (Third Pole Therapeutics) 79,80 are capable of generating INO from ambient air using an electrical discharge (plasma/iridium spark) to create NO 2 , which is converted to nitric oxide using a scrubber that requires daily changing. This on-demand system can produce concentrations of 1-400 ppm without the use of tanks.…”

Administering Inhaled Nitric Oxide: Still More to Understand

“…Also in development is a miniaturized system that electrically generates nitric oxide, which may make INO delivery in the home more accessible and be a more economical option for developing countries. 7 Undoubtedly, there are bench-to-bedside research opportunities for understanding how these devices will interact with various ventilators.…”