Cold Plasma Sterilization Devices and Associated Methods

Abstract

A cold plasma sterilization device for sterilization of objects such as medical instruments. Gas is fed to a plasma chamber where it is energized by one or more electrodes coupled to a pulse source to thereby generate a cold plasma inside the plasma chamber. A dielectric barrier is sandwiched between the gas compartment and the electrodes to form a dielectric barrier discharge device. Inside the plasma chamber, one or more conductive stands that are coupled to ground hold the object to-be-sterilized. The cold plasma exits the plasma chamber, where it is recirculated for further use as a plasma source in subsequent cycles. Gases that can be used include noble gases such as helium, or combinations of noble gases.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 535,250, entitled “Harmonic Cold Plasma Devices and Associated Methods”, filed on Sep. 15, 2011, which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.[0002]This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 149,744, filed May 31, 2011, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 638,161, filed Dec. 15, 2009, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 038,159, filed Feb. 27, 2008, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 913,369, filed Apr. 23, 2007, each of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.BACKGROUND[0003]1. Field of the Art[0004]The present invention relates to devices and methods for creating cold plasmas, and, more particularly, to cold plasma sterilization methods and application devices.[0005]2. Background Art[0006]Atmospheric pressure hot plasmas are known to exist in nature. F...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]As noted above, autoclaves have a number of disadvantages in their use in the sterilization of medical equipment. It is therefore desirable to have an improved method of rapidly sterilizing surgical instruments without the undesirable heating effects and exposure to steam.

[0010]Non-thermal gas plasmas (i.e., cold plasmas) have been shown to be effective at the destruction of many pathogens. In addition to their usefulness in the destruction of pathogens, it is also desirable to recirculate the gas used for cold plasma generation. Recirculation not only increases the efficiency of a cold plasma system, but also reduces the operating costs of such a system. In order to achieve effective sterilization of surfaces, and more specifically surgical instruments, contact times of several minutes may be necessary. To effect longer contact times, it is desirable to have a chamber that can contain one or more instruments and a volume of plasma. This description embodies the concept, in device and technique, for creating a plasma sterilization chamber and recirculating the feed / source specialty gas which would otherwise be lost to ambient air conditions. The contained CP recirculation unit shows how a noble gas can be used repeatedly in a cold plasma reaction chamber by way of electron separation in the reaction chamber, and electron attraction back to the normal atomic orbit in the non-energized part of the recirculation unit. This system works at or near atmospheric pressure levels, requiring no substantial additional pressure or vacuum.

Problems solved by technology

As noted above, autoclaves have a number of disadvantages in their use in the sterilization of medical equipment.

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