Detection and removal of impurities in nitric oxide generated from air by pulsed electrical discharge.

ABSTRACT: Inhalation of nitric oxide (NO) produces selective pulmonary vasodilation without dilating the systemic circulation. However, the current NO/N₂ cylinder delivery system is cumbersome and expensive. We developed a lightweight, portable, and economical device to generate NO from air by pulsed electrical discharge. The objective of this study was to investigate and optimize the purity and safety of NO generated by this device. By using low temperature streamer discharges in the plasma generator, we produced therapeutic levels of NO with very low levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and ozone. Despite the low temperature, spark generation eroded the surface of the electrodes, contaminating the gas stream with metal particles. During prolonged NO generation there was gradual l

SUBMITTER: Yu B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5079831 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature