Miniaturized Inhaled Nitric Oxide Delivery Units for Use in a Doctor’s Office

Nu-Med Plus, a medtech firm based in Utah, has developed a range of smart delivery devices for inhaled nitric oxide delivery, including a miniaturized unit that can operate in a doctor’s office. The innovation has been possible as parts of the drug patent for nitric oxide have been invalidated, meaning that the cost of the treatment could come down.

Nitric oxide is a vasodilator naturally produced by the endothelium. Inhaled nitric oxide is used to treat a variety of conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, high blood pressure, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and erectile dysfunction. However, until recently, the technology to deliver nitric oxide has not been particularly sophisticated or accessible in community medical clinics. In addition, the therapy has been very expensive.

Nu-Med Plus has developed a variety of nitric oxide delivery devices to increase the convenience of nitric oxide therapy. The most noteworthy of these is a new clinical unit, which is designed for use in a doctor’s office or other outpatient setting, making treatment more accessible and convenient. “The clinical unit multiplies the number of markets Nu-Med Plus is able to serve with our technology,” said Nu-Med Plus CEO Jeff Robins. “The market-leading innovation offers providers and patients new treatment options, in new convenient environments, to address health issues that significantly impact quality of life and cost billions of dollars annually to treat.”

The small unit is portable and is easily stored and accessed in doctor’s offices, nursing homes or outpatient clinics. It includes a touch screen and it is easy to precisely deliver a single dose. Nitric oxide is either supplied in prefilled small canisters, or as a proprietary formula that allows for nitric oxide generation.

Nu-Med Plus has also developed a battery-powered light-weight portable nitric oxide delivery device to allow for patient mobility within a hospital, or in emergency situations in the field and at the point-of-care in low-income remote regions.

The company is currently in the process of obtaining FDA approval for the devices.