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A nitric oxide delivery system, which includes a gas bottle having nitrogen dioxide in air, converts nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide and employs a surface-active material, such as silica gel, coated with an aqueous solution of antioxidant, such as ascorbic acid. A nitric oxide delivery system may b

A nitric oxide delivery system, which includes a gas bottle having nitrogen dioxide in air, converts nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide and employs a surface-active material, such as silica gel, coated with an aqueous solution of antioxidant, such as ascorbic acid. A nitric oxide delivery system may be used to generate therapeutic gas including nitric oxide for use in delivering the therapeutic gas to a mammal.

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What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for generating a therapeutic gas including nitric oxide for use in delivering the therapeutic gas to a mammal comprising: a gas bottle having nitrogen dioxide and capable of providing a flow of gaseous nitrogen dioxide; and a receptacle including an inlet, an out

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for generating a therapeutic gas including nitric oxide for use in delivering the therapeutic gas to a mammal comprising: a gas bottle having nitrogen dioxide and capable of providing a flow of gaseous nitrogen dioxide; and a receptacle including an inlet, an outlet, and a surface-active material coated with an aqueous solution of an antioxidant, wherein the inlet is configured to receive the flow from the gas bottle and fluidly communicate the flow to the outlet through the surface-active material to convert the gaseous nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide at ambient temperature, wherein the receptacle is configured to attach to the gas bottle. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gas bottle is configured to only be able to be attached to the receptacle. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gas bottle includes nitrogen dioxide in oxygen. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surface-active material is saturated with the aqueous solution of the antioxidant. 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surface-active material comprises a substrate that retains water. 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the surface-active material comprises a silica gel. 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the receptacle comprises a cartridge. 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the antioxidant comprises ascorbic acid. 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the antioxidant comprises alpha tocopherol or gamma tocopherol. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is a first receptacle, the apparatus further comprising a second receptacle including a second inlet, a second outlet, and a second surface-active material coated with an aqueous solution of an antioxidant, wherein the second inlet is configured to receive the flow from the first receptacle and fluidly communicate the flow to the second outlet through the second surface-active material to convert the gaseous nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide at ambient temperature. 11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a flexible bag operable to inflate and deflate as the mammal breathes, and wherein the second receptacle is positioned between the flexible bag and a point at which the flow having the nitric oxide is delivered to the mammal. 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is a first receptacle, the apparatus further comprising a second receptacle including a second inlet, a second outlet, and activated alumina, wherein the second inlet is configured to receive the flow from the first receptacle and fluidly communicate the flow to the second outlet through the activated alumina to trap the gaseous nitrogen dioxide at ambient temperature. 13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the receptacle includes screen and glass wool adjacent to both the inlet and the outlet. 14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the screen and glass wool is soaked in the aqueous solution of antioxidant before being inserted in the receptacle. 15. An apparatus for calibration comprising: a gas bottle having nitrogen dioxide and capable of providing diffusing gaseous nitrogen dioxide into an air flow; a receptacle including an inlet, an outlet, and a surface-active material coated with an aqueous solution of an antioxidant, wherein the inlet is configured to receive the air flow from the gas bottle and fluidly communicate the air flow to the outlet through the surface-active material to convert the gaseous nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide at ambient temperature; and a device to control whether the air flow is directed through the receptacle before the air flow is provided to an instrument being calibrated, wherein the receptacle is configured to attach to the gas bottle. 16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising an air pump capable of generating an air flow; wherein the receptacle is configured to receive the air flow generated by the air pump. 17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the gas bottle is configured to only be able to be attached to the receptacle. 18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the gas bottle includes nitrogen dioxide in oxygen. 19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the surface-active material is saturated with the aqueous solution of the antioxidant. 20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the surface-active material comprises a substrate that retains water. 21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the surface-active material comprises a silica gel. 22. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the receptacle comprises a cartridge. 23. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the antioxidant comprises ascorbic acid. 24. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the antioxidant comprises alpha tocopherol or gamma tocopherol. 25. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the receptacle is a first receptacle, the apparatus further comprising a second receptacle including a second inlet, a second outlet, and a second surface-active material coated with an aqueous solution of an antioxidant, wherein the second inlet is configured to receive the air flow from the first receptacle and fluidly communicate the air flow to the second outlet through the second surface-active material to convert the gaseous nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide at ambient temperature. 26. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the receptacle includes screen and glass wool adjacent to both the inlet and the outlet. 27. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the screen and glass wool is soaked in the aqueous solution of antioxidant before being inserted in the receptacle. 28. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gas bottle includes nitrogen dioxide in air.