US 11,945,719 B2
Apparatus and method for generating nitric oxide in controlled and accurate amounts
Frederick John Montgomery, Sun Prairie, WI (US); Cory Casper, Monona, WI (US); Duncan P. L. Bathe, Fitchburg, WI (US); and Tye Gribb, Fitchburg, WI (US)
Assigned to NitricGen, Inc., Fitchburg, WI (US)
Filed by NitricGen, Inc., Fitchburg, WI (US)
Filed on Feb. 3, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/166,088.
Application 15/887,246 is a division of application No. 15/372,552, filed on Dec. 8, 2016, granted, now 9,896,337, issued on Feb. 20, 2018.
Application 15/372,552 is a division of application No. 14/347,479, granted, now 9,573,110, issued on Feb. 21, 2017, previously published as PCT/US2012/058564, filed on Oct. 3, 2012.
Application 17/166,088 is a continuation of application No. 16/837,787, filed on Apr. 1, 2020, granted, now 10,919,768.
Application 16/837,787 is a continuation of application No. 15/887,246, filed on Feb. 2, 2018, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/542,400, filed on Oct. 3, 2011.
Prior Publication US 2021/0214221 A1, Jul. 15, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B01J 19/08 (2006.01); A61K 33/00 (2006.01); B01D 46/00 (2022.01); B01D 53/02 (2006.01); B01J 20/04 (2006.01); B01J 20/08 (2006.01); B01J 20/10 (2006.01); B01J 20/20 (2006.01); B01J 20/22 (2006.01); B01J 20/28 (2006.01); C01B 21/20 (2006.01); C01B 21/32 (2006.01); H04L 9/30 (2006.01); H05H 1/46 (2006.01); H05H 1/50 (2006.01)
CPC C01B 21/203 (2013.01) [A61K 33/00 (2013.01); B01D 46/00 (2013.01); B01D 46/0084 (2013.01); B01D 53/02 (2013.01); B01J 19/088 (2013.01); B01J 20/041 (2013.01); B01J 20/08 (2013.01); B01J 20/103 (2013.01); B01J 20/20 (2013.01); B01J 20/22 (2013.01); B01J 20/28047 (2013.01); C01B 21/32 (2013.01); H04L 9/30 (2013.01); H05H 1/46 (2013.01); B01J 2219/0801 (2013.01); B01J 2219/0809 (2013.01); B01J 2219/0815 (2013.01); B01J 2219/0826 (2013.01); B01J 2219/0852 (2013.01); B01J 2219/0869 (2013.01); B01J 2219/0875 (2013.01); B01J 2219/0883 (2013.01); B01J 2219/0894 (2013.01); H05H 1/50 (2013.01)] 32 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for generating nitric oxide comprising:
(i) a reaction chamber;
(ii) an inlet to provide a flow of reactant gas comprising nitrogen and oxygen to the reaction chamber;
(iii) a pair of electrodes located in the reaction chamber and separated by a gap;
(iv) a flow meter for measuring a gas flow from an external regulated source to determine the flow of the reactant gas through the reaction chamber;
(v) an electronic control circuit in communication with the flow meter and the electrodes to generate an electric arc discharge across the gap, wherein the electronic control circuit is configured to control a pulse frequency of the electric arc discharge and a pulse duration of the electric arc discharge independent of the pulse frequency; and wherein the electric arc discharge across the gap determines a concentration of nitric oxide generated in the reactant gas to produce a product gas comprising nitric oxide; and
(vi) an outlet for the product gas comprising nitric oxide.