Abstract: The principles and embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems for safely providing NO to a recipient for inhalation therapy. There are many potential safety issues that may arise from using a reactor cartridge that converts NO2 to NO, including exhaustion of consumable reactants of the cartridge reactor. Accordingly, various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods of determining the remaining useful life of a NO2-to-NO reactor cartridge and/or a break-through of NO2, and providing an indication of the remaining useful life and/or break-through.

Abstract: The principles and embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems for safely providing NO to a recipient for inhalation therapy. There are many potential safety issues that may arise from using a reactor cartridge that converts NO2 to NO, including exhaustion of consumable reactants of the cartridge reactor. Accordingly, various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods of determining the remaining useful life of a NO2-to-NO reactor cartridge and/or a break-through of NO2, and providing an indication of the remaining useful life and/or break-through.

Abstract: The principles and embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems for safely providing NO to a recipient for inhalation therapy. There are many potential safety issues that may arise from using a reactor cartridge that converts NO2 to NO, including exhaustion of consumable reactants of the cartridge reactor. Accordingly, various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods of determining the remaining useful life of a NO2-to-NO reactor cartridge and/or a break-through of NO2, and providing an indication of the remaining useful life and/or break-through.

Abstract: An actuator for operatively engaging and dispensing a fluent medicament from a package in the form of a spray. The actuator includes a housing to receive and hold the package and further includes a force amplification mechanism that is connected to, and movable with respect to, the housing. The housing further includes a force transfer mechanism operatively engaged with a portion of the package. The force amplification mechanism is coupled with force transfer mechanism for accumulating a force sufficient to dispense the medicament from the package in the form of a spray.

Abstract: An actuator for operatively engaging and dispensing a fluent medicament from a package in the form of a spray. The actuator includes a housing to receive and hold the package and further includes a force amplification mechanism that is connected to, and movable with respect to, the housing. The housing further includes a force transfer mechanism operatively engaged with a portion of the package. The force amplification mechanism is coupled with force transfer mechanism for accumulating a force sufficient to dispense the medicament from the package in the form of a spray.

Abstract: The principles and embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems for safely providing NO to a recipient for inhalation therapy. There are many potential safety issues that may arise from using a reactor cartridge that converts NO2 to NO, including exhaustion of consumable reactants of the cartridge reactor. Accordingly, various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods of determining the remaining useful life of a NO2-to-NO reactor cartridge and/or a break-through of NO2, and providing an indication of the remaining useful life and/or break-through.

Abstract: A therapy utilizing inhaled anesthetic agents (such as desflurane, sevoflurane, isoflurane, or xenon) for the sedation of patients outside of the immediate perioperative space such as in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) and the surgical intensive care unit (SICU). The therapy includes controlled delivery of volatile anesthetic agents to patients undergoing ventilatory support on an ICU ventilator over extended periods of time. A system which provides for the delivery of anesthetic agents includes an anesthetic agent vaporizer element, an anesthetic agent reflector, and a plug-in cassette which contains both a cartridge housing liquid phase volatile anesthetic agent and an anesthetic vapor scrubbing medium.

Abstract: A therapy utilizing inhaled anesthetic agents (such as desflurane, sevoflurane, isoflurane, or xenon) for the sedation of patients outside of the immediate perioperative space such as in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) and the surgical intensive care unit (SICU). The therapy includes controlled delivery of volatile anesthetic agents to patients undergoing ventilatory support on an ICU ventilator over extended periods of time. A system which provides for the delivery of anesthetic agents includes an anesthetic agent vaporizer element, an anesthetic agent reflector, and a plug-in cassette which contains both a cartridge housing liquid phase volatile anesthetic agent and an anesthetic vapor scrubbing medium.

Abstract: A therapeutic oxygen-nitric oxide gas mixture is produced by passing air, oxygen-enriched air or air containing a small amount of ammonia over a noble metal catalyst at an elevated temperature. The product gas containing nitric oxide and a small amount of nitrogen dioxide is passed through a bed of an adsorbent which preferentially adsorbs nitrogen dioxide to produce nitric oxide-containing air suitable for administering to humans as an inhalant.

Abstract: Nitric oxide is produced by reacting aqueous nitric acid with gaseous sulfur dioxide in a gas-liquid contact reactor. The reaction is conducted in the presence of a stoichiometric excess of nitric acid to minimize the production of byproduct nitrous oxide and nitrogen. The nitric oxide product gas is chilled sufficiently to freeze most of the water and byproduct nitrogen dioxide contained in the nitric oxide product gas. Residual nitrogen dioxide can be removed by adsorptive separation using an adsorbent which preferentially adsorbs nitrogen dioxide.

Abstract: A gas mixture comprised of nitric oxide and, optionally an inert gas, and containing small amounts of nitrogen dioxide, and perhaps moisture and sulfur dioxide, is purified by passing the gas stream through a bed of zeolite having a silica to alumina ratio not greater than about 200. The concentration of nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and moisture in the gas stream are reduced to about 1 ppm or less as the gas mixture passes through the bed of zeolite.

Abstract: A gas mixture comprised of nitric oxide and, optionally an inert gas, and containing small amounts of nitrogen dioxide, and perhaps moisture and sulfur dioxide, is purified by passing the gas stream through a bed of metal cation-free silica, alumina, or zeolite. The concentration of nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and moisture in the gas stream are significantly reduced as the gas mixture passes through the bed of adsorbent.

Abstract: A gas mixture comprised of nitric oxide and, optionally an inert gas, and containing small amounts of nitrogen dioxide, and perhaps moisture and sulfur dioxide, is purified by passing the gas stream through a bed of metal cation-free alumina-deficient zeolites of types Y or ZSM-5. The concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and moisture in the gas stream are reduced to about 1 ppm or less as the gas mixture passes through the bed of zeolite.

Abstract: Petrochemicals are produced by the vapor phase reaction of a hydrocarbon with substantially pure oxygen in the presence of a suitable catalyst. In the improved process, the principal product is removed, carbon monoxide, present in the reactor effluent as a byproduct, is oxidized to carbon dioxide and part of the gaseous effluent, comprised mainly of carbon dioxide and unreacted hydrocarbon, is recycled to the reactor. Removal of carbon monoxide from the recycle stream reduces the hazard of a fire or explosion in the reactor or associated equipment. The use of carbon dioxide as the principal diluent increases heat removal from the reactor, thereby increasing the production capacity of the reactor.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for the production of an anhydride by the vapor phase reaction of a hydrocarbon with substantially pure oxygen in the presence of a suitable catalyst. In the improved process, the anhydride product is removed, carbon monoxide, present in the reactor effluent as a by-product, is oxidized to carbon dioxide and part of the gaseous effluent, comprised mainly of carbon dioxide and unreacted hydrocarbon, is recycled to the reactor. Removal of carbon monoxide from the recycle stream reduces the hazard of a fire or explosion in the reactor or associated equipment. The use of carbon dioxide as the principal diluent increases heat removal from the reactor, thereby increasing the production capacity of the reactor.