US 11,945,720 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 Mar. 3, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/190,841.
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 17/190,841 is a continuation of application No. 17/166,088, filed on Feb. 3, 2021.
Application 17/166,088 is a continuation of application No. 16/837,787, filed on Apr. 1, 2020, granted, now 10,919,768, issued on Feb. 16, 2021.
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 2021/0261416 A1, Aug. 26, 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)] 33 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for generating nitric oxide comprising:
(i) providing a flow of a reactant gas comprising nitrogen and oxygen to an apparatus comprising:
(a) a reaction chamber;
(b) an inlet to provide the flow of the reactant gas comprising nitrogen and oxygen to the reaction chamber;
(c) a pair of electrodes in the reaction chamber and separated by a gap;
(d) an electronic control circuit in communication with 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;
(e) an outlet for a product gas comprising nitric oxide;
(ii) promoting the electric arc discharge across the electrodes through the gas flow while controlling the pulse frequency of the electric arc discharge and the pulse duration of the electric arc discharge to produce the product gas comprising nitric oxide; and
(iii) outputting the product gas comprising nitric oxide.