Described are systems and methods for administration of nitric oxide (NO) with use of left ventricular assists devices (LVADs), as well as systems and methods for monitoring the NO delivery devices and/or the LVAD.

Inhalation of low levels of nitric oxide can rapidly and safely decrease pulmonary hypertension in mammals. A nitric oxide delivery system that converts nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide employs a surface-active material, such as silica gel, coated with an aqueous solution of antioxidant, such as ascorbic acid.

A gas-evolving composition delivery system is disclosed, which comprises a pressurized container having a dispenser, and a liquid gas-evolving composition, such as an acidified nitrite solution, within the pressurized container, wherein the pressurized container has an internal pressure sufficient to minimize gas production from the gas-evolving composition while within the container. Also disclosed is a method of stabilizing an acidified nitrite solution comprising loading the solution into a container and sealing the container to be airtight.

A gas-evolving composition delivery system is disclosed, which comprises a pressurized container having a dispenser, and a liquid gas-evolving composition, such as an acidified nitrite solution, within the pressurized container, wherein the pressurized container has an internal pressure sufficient to minimize gas production from the gas-evolving composition while within the container. Also disclosed is a method of stabilizing an acidified nitrite solution comprising loading the solution into a container and sealing the container to be airtight.

A nitric oxide administration device 14 includes a second flow path 201 including an intake port 201a and an NO supply port 201b, a discharge unit 205 which is arranged in the second flow path 201 and which generates NO from air introduced via the intake port 201a, generated NO being supplied via the NO supply port 201b, an NO.sub.2 adsorption unit 206 which is arranged downstream of the discharge unit 205 and removes NO.sub.2, a bypass flow path 217 for reflux from downstream of the NO.sub.2 adsorption unit 206 to upstream of the NO.sub.2 adsorption unit 206, and a three-way valve 216 for switching the opening and closing of a flow path from downstream of the NO.sub.2 adsorption unit 206 to the NO supply port 201b.

A nitric oxide administration device 1 includes a first flow path 101 including a first intake port 101a and an oxygen supply port 101b, an oxygen generation unit 100 which is arranged in the first flow path 101 and which generates concentrated oxygen from air introduced via the first intake port 101a, the generated concentrated oxygen being supplied via the oxygen supply port 101b, a second flow path 201 which is branched from the first flow path 101 and which includes an NO supply port 201b, and an NO generation unit 200 which is arranged in the second flow path 201 and which generates NO from gas distributed from the first flow path 101, the generated NO being supplied via the NO supply port 201b.

A method of forming a stream having a therapeutic concentration of nitric oxide (NO) is disclosed, along with an apparatus and system suitable to accomplish this method.

A method of forming a stream having a therapeutic concentration of nitric oxide (NO) is disclosed, along with an apparatus and system suitable to accomplish this method.

The present disclosure describes a bi-valve for use with a flowmeter or other source of oxygen or other medical gas, that allows a medical practitioner to easily and quickly switch from delivering oxygen or other gas from the flowmeter or other gas source to a given mask or other device, to another mask or other device. This is accomplished far faster and easier than is done under current practice. Current practice results in the patient being off oxygen or other gas for a short, but very significant period of time, which poses a serious risk of desaturation in the patient. The bi-valve may include a casing, an inlet, and two outlets, with a knob for selecting which output the oxygen or other gas is to be delivered to. The device may be a very simple ball valve device, with the only moving parts being the knob and the ball.

A relay administration device 50 for use in connection to a nitric oxide administration device 20 which supplies NO generated from air, includes an NO densitometer 506, a flowmeter 507 or pressure gauge 504, a control unit 600 which calculates a dosage of NO to be administered to a patient based on an NO concentration measured by the NO densitometer 506 and a value of the flowmeter 507 or the pressure gauge 504, and a two-way valve 505 which is configured to increase a flow rate when the calculated dosage is less than a predetermined value and to decrease the flow rate when the calculated dosage is greater than a predetermined value.