Therapeutic device for treating body surfaces with dielectrically-barrier plasma

Abstract

A treatment device for treating a body surface with dielectrically impeded plasma, comprising an electrode device (1), wherein at least one electrode (1a, 1b) is arranged in a base section of the electrode device (1), is completely shielded by a dielectric (3) toward the surface to be treated and extends with a connecting conductor (6a, 6b) into a contact projection (5) of the dielectric (3), and comprises a contact element (2, 2'), the contact element having a receiving opening (18, 18') for the contact projection (5) and a lever device for opening and closing the receiving opening (18, 18'), and the lever device is used to press a contact pin (31) through a prefabricated recess (14) of the dielectric (3) onto the electrode (1a, 1b) in order to lead a connection of an AC high voltage power supply to the electrode (1a, 1b), so that a spatially close arrangement of two contact pins (31) can be achieved, the contact pins being connected to at least one high voltage power supply and being very close to each other, wherein the contact pins are connected to at least one high voltage power supply and are very close to each other, and the contact pins are connected to at least one high voltage power supply and are very close to each other, and the contact pins are connected to at least one high voltage power supply and are very close to each other, and the contact elements ... The method is that the electrode device (1) has at least two electrodes (1a, 1b) arranged in a base section and insulated from each other by a dielectric (3) and extend into a contact protrusion (5) with a respective connecting conductor (6a, 6b), for each connecting conductor (6a, 6b) there is a recess (14) in the dielectric (3) and a respective contact pin (31), at least one of the contact pins (31) is installed in the contact element (2) by means of a dielectric sheath (30) and is formed with a non-insulated end face (46) for forming contact with the associated electrode (1a, 1b), and at least one dielectric sheath (30) has an overdimension relative to the associated recess (14) in the dielectric (3), when the non-insulated end face (46) of the contact pin (31) contacts the associated electrode (1a, 1b), the sheath (30) forms a press fit of the sheath (30) in the dielectric (3) with the overdimension by means of a lever device to avoid air gaps.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a treatment device for treating a body surface with dielectrically-impeded plasma, comprising an electrode device, wherein at least one electrode is arranged in a base section of the electrode device, is completely shielded by a dielectric toward the surface to be treated and extends with a connecting conductor into a contact protrusion of the dielectric, and has a contact element, the contact element having a receiving opening for the contact protrusion and a lever device for opening and closing the receiving opening, and the lever device is used to press a contact pin through a prefabricated recess of the dielectric onto the electrode in order to lead a connection of an AC high-voltage power supply to the electrode. Background Art

[0002] It has long been known that subjecting body surfaces to dielectrically hindered plasma discharges has a positive effect on the surface. Thus, surfaces made of a variety of materials can be disinfected and / or prepared for the absorption of adhesives, pigments, etc. by means of cold plasma discharges, which represent dielectrically hindered plasma discharges. It is also known to treat the skin surfaces of living bodies with dielectrically hindered plasma discharges, whereby disinfection and an increase in microcirculation in the skin can be achieved, thereby also improving wound healing.

[0003] In order to generate a dielectrically impeded plasma, an alternating high voltage is fed to the electrodes of the treatment device. The electrode device is originally connected to the treatment device in which the alternating high voltage is generated via a suitable high-voltage cable, but there is an increasing idea to design such an electrode device to be easily replaceable, so that the used electrode device can be quickly and easily replaced by a new, sterilely packaged electrode device, especially for the treatment of the skin surface after the treatment.

[0004] Such a treatment device with the features mentioned at the outset is known, for example, from DE 10 2014 013 716 A1. The dielectric of the electrode arrangement forms a contact projection into which the electrode extends together with the connecting conductor. In the contact projection, the dielectric is provided with a recess, through which a small surface of the connecting conductor is exposed as the bottom of the recess. In use, the contact pin of the contact element extends into the recess and contacts the exposed surface of the connecting conductor on the end side, whereby an alternating high voltage is fed to the electrode via the contact pin. The contact element surrounds the arrangement consisting of the contact pin and the recess of the dielectric with an insulating housing, the receiving opening of the housing for the contact element being able to be closed with a lever device, so that contact safety with respect to the high voltage feed is ensured.

[0005] An electrode device is known from EP 3 320 759 B1, in which two electrodes are arranged side by side in a base section. The two electrodes are completely embedded in a dielectric, and are thus also insulated from each other by the dielectric. It is known that in an electrode device, two electrodes are connected to different interfaces of an alternating high voltage power source, so that one of the electrodes obtains a high voltage phase and the other electrode is grounded, and in EP 3 320 759 B1, it is proposed that the two electrodes are loaded with the opposite phase of an alternating voltage source. It is thus achieved that the amplitude of the doubled alternating high voltage signal is generated in the vicinity of the electrode, and the excitation field is cancelled at a certain distance from the electrode, so that the electromagnetic field that interferes with the surrounding environment is significantly reduced. In order not to allow the contact element to become too large, it is proposed that the connecting conductors of the two electrodes can extend parallel to each other in a contact projection as narrow as possible and that the connecting conductors are in contact with the contact pins of the contact element there. However, it is concluded that the contact pins must be arranged close to each other. However, the voltage amplitude used here, for example, 20 kV, requires a minimum spacing between each other, which is obtained by the length of the air path between the contact pins or connecting conductors required to prevent flashover. The spacing can be maintained if the dielectric has one contact projection for each of the two electrodes, which extend in different directions from the base section of the electrode arrangement. However, this requires the use of two contact elements, which in practice results in double the effort. Summary of the invention

[0006] The invention is therefore based on the problem of designing a treatment device of the type mentioned in the introduction, which has at least two electrodes in an electrode arrangement, in such a way that it can be contacted with the least possible effort.

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a therapeutic device of the type mentioned at the outset is characterized in that the electrode device has at least two electrodes, which are arranged in a base section and are insulated from each other by a dielectric and extend into a contact protrusion with each connecting conductor, so that for each connecting conductor there is a recess located in the dielectric and a contact pin, at least one of the contact pins is installed in the contact element by means of a dielectric sheath and is designed to have a non-insulated end face for forming contact with the relevant electrode, and at least one dielectric sheath has an overdimension relative to the relevant recess in the dielectric, when the non-insulated end face of the contact pin contacts the relevant electrode, the sheath with the overdimension forms a press fit of the sheath in the dielectric avoiding air gaps by means of a lever device.

[0008] The design according to the invention ensures that the contact pin with its dielectric sheath is arranged in the dielectric without air gaps, so that there is no direct air path between the contact pins for the at least two electrodes or the at least two electrodes themselves. Instead, the relevant minimum distance is decisively determined by the dielectric properties of the dielectric and the dielectric sheath.

[0009] The invention can be applied when at least two electrodes are usually connected to an AC voltage source, i.e. one electrode is connected to an AC voltage phase and the other electrode is grounded. In this case, it is not absolutely necessary for the contact pin connected to the ground of the high voltage source to be provided with a dielectric sheath. Of course, the flashover safety is increased if the contact pin is also provided in the manner according to the invention with a dielectric sheath that is oversized with respect to the associated recess in the dielectric.

[0010] The invention is particularly suitable in the case of an electrode arrangement with two electrodes which are connected to opposite phases of an AC voltage. In this case, since the maximum potential difference is doubled, it is particularly necessary to provide the two contact pins with a dielectric sheath according to the invention so that the contact pins are embedded in the dielectric with almost no air gap when the connection to the associated electrode is established via the end face of the contact pin.

[0011] In a modification of the embodiment with two electrodes driven in opposite phases, a ground electrode can also be provided as a third electrode in the electrode arrangement. It may be expedient to arrange the ground electrode in a different layer of the multilayer structure of the electrode arrangement than the two electrodes driven in opposite phases, so that the ground electrode is located in the dielectric between the electrodes driven in opposite phases and the surface to be treated. Of course, the ground electrode is insulated from the electrodes driven in opposite phases by the dielectric. The ground electrode has an opening, which allows the formation of so-called surface plasmons due to the excitation field extending through the opening of the ground electrode.

[0012] However, for the present invention it is preferred to construct two electrodes which are driven in opposite phases, for which the surface to be treated or the relevant body forms the counter-electrode. For this purpose, the body can be grounded by means of a ground terminal. Generally speaking, it is sufficient if the body forms a "floating" ground electrode / counter-electrode due to its mass.

[0013] In one embodiment of the invention, the dielectric sheath is formed with at least two different outer cross sections by means of at least one step, wherein the size of the outer cross section decreases toward the non-insulating end face. Accordingly, the dielectric recess can be provided with corresponding steps. With the cooperation of the dielectric sheath and the recess, an improved and more secure press fit of the sheath in the recess can be ensured.

[0014] For this purpose, designs are also used in which the inner cross section of the dielectric is at an acute angle to the associated outer cross section of the dielectric sheath in the contact position in the axial direction of the contact pin, so that the sheath is inserted into the recess in a funnel-like manner.

[0015] In one embodiment, the inner cross section of the recess and the outer cross section of the jacket are circular, but other cross-sectional shapes, such as a square cross section, are also possible.

[0016] It is expedient for the invention that the electrode arrangement is of planar design and that the planar electrode is shielded from the surface to be treated by means of a planar layer of a dielectric. The shielding of the surface to be treated is achieved in that the dielectric forms a contact surface which is designed to contact the surface to be treated, the contact surface preferably being structured to form an air chamber for forming a plasma when the dielectric with its contact surface contacts the surface to be treated. The structuring of the surface can be formed in a manner known per se by means of bumps, grid structures, blind hole-like recesses, etc.

[0017] In particular for treating curved or irregular surfaces it is expedient if the electrodes and the dielectric are flexible.

[0018] The lever device can be suitably locked in a closed position, by means of which the contact element is pressed against the contact projection of the dielectric. As a lever device, a lever device known as a toggle switch is considered. In order to improve the safety of the connection established between the electrode device and the contact element, the lever device can have a two-arm lever, the lever having a rotation axis and an operating end on one side of the rotation axis and a control end on the other side of the rotation axis, wherein the control end is hingedly connected to a wall part that opens and closes the receiving opening via a rotary joint, the wall part being rotatably mounted on the rotation axis, wherein the rotation axis is closer to the receiving opening than the rotary joint. Therefore, the lever device forms a knee joint control device, whereby the wall part can be further opened to form the receiving opening and when the receiving opening is closed, if the contact projection is correctly positioned in the receiving opening, then a suitable pressing force is applied to the contact projection of the dielectric.

[0019] It may be expedient for the contact projection to be additionally provided with a mechanical positioning aid in the form of a molded pin or a shaped depression, which interacts with a corresponding pin and a corresponding depression of the contact element and enables closing of the receiving opening into a possibly locked position of the lever device only when positioning is performed correctly. Correct positioning also presupposes that the contact pin engages with its sleeve in a matching manner in the associated recess of the dielectric to form a press fit.

[0020] The movable wall element forming the receiving opening can be designed as a cover which covers the contact pins when the receiving opening is closed. In one embodiment, the cover can have a circumferential wall, the circumferential edge of which ends parallel to the flat bottom of the receiving opening when the receiving opening is closed. The circumferential edge thus serves to clamp the contact projection of the dielectric in the receiving opening, wherein the flexible dielectric is pressed in through the circumferential edge by means of the prestressing of the wall element.

[0021] In order to increase the safety of the connection between the contact element and the contact projection of the electrode device for transmitting the high voltage, a first sensor for the closed position of the lever device can be provided, which controls a switch for interrupting the supply of the high voltage to the electrode. Thus, the electrode can only be supplied with high voltage when the sensor detects the closed position of the lever device.

[0022] In a similar manner, the second sensor can detect the complete introduction of the contact projection into the receiving opening when the receiving opening is closed. This ensures that the contact element does not conduct high voltage to the contact pin when the electrode arrangement is not connected to the contact element.

[0023] As a sensor, for example, a grating that interacts with a corresponding protrusion on the moving part of the contact element is suitable. In this way, the protrusion on the lever device can extend into the associated grating so that the closed state of the lever device is displayed by the interruption of the grating. In a similar manner, the contact protrusion pushed into the receiving opening can operate the lever device when the receiving opening is closed, and the lever device has a protrusion that engages in the second grating and interrupts the grating when the contact protrusion is correctly positioned in the receiving opening. Of course, the grating can also be used in the opposite function, and in the opposite function, when the contact protrusion is correctly positioned and / or the lever device is correctly closed, the grating will not be interrupted. In an ingenious embodiment, two gratings can be arranged at the fork-shaped end of the grating body with three "points (Zinken)". The two gaps formed in this way can be bridged by one of the gratings respectively. The protrusion on the moving part of the contact element can then be engaged in the relevant gap between the tips for the corresponding detection state to interrupt the corresponding grating, which is evaluated as a sensor signal.

[0024] The alternating high voltage signal for exciting the plasma field is preferably a pulse signal, the pulse width of which is significantly smaller than the interval to the next pulse. In fact, the excitation pulse is manifested as a decaying oscillation with a greatly (e.g., exponentially) decreasing pulse amplitude, whereby the decaying wave train formed in this way also only occupies a portion of the interval to the next excitation pulse.

[0025] Since only a small current flows during a dielectrically blocked plasma discharge, the contact element can be designed as a self-sufficient device with a battery voltage supply and its own high-voltage generator stage. In order to control the two electrodes with an antiphase high-voltage signal, for example in the form of a decaying pulse train, two high-voltage generator stages are required, which can each have an inductor, for example. The inductors can be wound in opposite directions, resulting in an antiphase high-voltage signal.

[0026] Of course, the power supply voltage cable can also be delivered to the contact element. Here, high voltage can also be generated in the contact element, so that there is no need to transmit the high voltage to the contact element, but only needs to be powered by a conventional power supply voltage that is not high voltage.

[0027] Alternatively, of course, the contact element can also be fed with an externally generated high-voltage signal. In this case, high-voltage safe cables and cable bushings must be used. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The present invention will be described in more detail below based on the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings show:

[0029] Figure 1 A plan view of a treatment device with a flat electrode arrangement and a contact element in a first embodiment is shown, with an open receiving opening of the contact element, into which the electrode arrangement has not yet been inserted;

[0030] Figure 2 Shown along Figure 1 A vertical section view of line AA in FIG.

[0031] Figure 2a Show Figure 2 Magnified detail image of

[0032] Figure 3 The basis for the first embodiment is shown Figure 1 A top view of the receiving opening, wherein the receiving opening is closed after the electrode device is introduced into the receiving opening;

[0033] Figure 4 Shown along Figure 3 A vertical section view of line AA in FIG.

[0034] Figure 4a Show Figure 4 Magnified detail image of

[0035] Figure 5 A sectional view is shown for explaining the function of the first sensor in the open state of the receiving opening;

[0036] Figure 5a Show Figure 5 An enlarged view of detail C in FIG.

[0037] Figure 6 The electrode unit is shown in the closed state of the receiving opening after the electrode unit is introduced. Figure 5 sectional view of

[0038] Figure 6a Show Figure 6 An enlarged view of detail C in FIG.

[0039] Figure 7 A cross section through the contact element in the open state is shown to illustrate the function of the two light barriers;

[0040] Figure 7a Show Figure 7An enlarged view of detail D in FIG.

[0041] Figure 8 The contact element is shown in the closed state according to Figure 7 Cross-sectional view of .

[0042] Figure 8a Show Figure 8 An enlarged view of detail E in FIG.

[0043] Fig. 9 An enlarged detail view showing the contact between the contact element and the electrode arrangement in the closed state of the receiving opening;

[0044] Fig.10 A top view of the contact arrangement is shown after the housing cover has been removed;

[0045] Fig.11 A modification of the first exemplary embodiment is shown by forming contact elements and connecting lines for the voltage supply;

[0046] Fig.12 Show according to Fig.11 A top view of the device;

[0047] Fig.13 shows a top view of an electrode arrangement with a contact element according to a second embodiment;

[0048] Fig.14 Shown along Fig.13 A vertical cross-sectional view of line AA in which the receiving opening is open;

[0049] Fig.14a Show Fig.14 A magnified view of detail A in FIG.

[0050] Fig.15 Shown along Fig.13 The basis of line AA in Fig.14 A vertical cross-sectional view of the housing, wherein the receiving opening is closed;

[0051] Fig.15a Show Fig.15 A magnified view of detail A in FIG.

[0052] Fig.16 Shown along Fig.13 The line BB in the Fig.13 A vertical cross-section of the device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] The therapeutic device according to the invention consists of an electrode arrangement 1 and a contact element 2 .

[0054] exist Figures 1 to 74 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a treatment device according to the invention, in which the contact element forms a completely self-sufficient device for supplying power to the electrode arrangement 1 , as will be explained in detail below.

[0055] In the embodiment shown, the electrode arrangement 1 consists of two electrodes 1a, 1b, which are designed in a planar manner and are completely embedded in a dielectric 3. The dielectric, which is designed essentially as a square surface in the base section, has a thin patch 4 connected to it in one piece, with which the electrode arrangement 1 can be connected to the surface to be treated, for example by gluing. In this way, the electrode arrangement is particularly suitable as a wound dressing.

[0056] On the base section of the dielectric, an elongated contact protrusion 5 is connected centrally on one side thereof, the width of which is significantly smaller than the maximum width of the dielectric 3. In the contact protrusion 5 belonging to the dielectric 3 and formed integrally therewith, connecting conductors 6a, 6b extend from the two electrodes 1a, 1b respectively and are connected integrally to the electrodes 1a, 1b associated therewith. The electrodes 1a, 1b and the connecting conductors 6a, 6b are fully embedded in the dielectric 3 together with their contact protrusions 5, so that contact with the electrodes 1a, 1b and the connecting conductors 6a, 6b is impossible. Therefore, the dielectric 3 electrically shields all conductive parts of the electrodes 1a, 1b and their connecting conductors 6a, 6b and prevents direct current from the electrodes 1a, 1b to the counter-electrode outside the electrode arrangement 1. The two electrodes 1a, 1b and their connecting conductors 6a, 6b are constructed in a planar manner and are insulated from each other along the central axis 7 by the material of the dielectric 3. The central axis 7 is at Figure 1 The cross-sectional area EE extends insofar as it extends on the electrode arrangement 1 .

[0057] In the region of the substantially square basic shape of the dielectric 3, the dielectric is provided with a plurality of through-holes 8 which extend from the upper side 9 of the dielectric 3 to the lower side 10 of the dielectric, which forms a contact surface for the surface to be treated. The through-holes 8' of the electrodes 1a, 1b, which are larger than the through-holes 8, are aligned with the through-holes 8 of the dielectric 3, so that the electrodes 1a, 1b are also shielded by the dielectric 3 in the channels forming the through-holes 8.

[0058] like Figure 2 As shown, chambers 11 separated from one another by narrow webs 12 are located on the bottom side 10 of the dielectric 3. The webs 12 form a grid structure on the bottom side 10, in which the chambers 11 are formed in a substantially square shape. However, the shape and size of the chambers 11 can be freely selected. The chambers also do not have to be limited by the webs 12, but can also be formed as blind hole-like depressions in the material of the dielectric 3. It is also possible that the air chamber for the plasma is also formed unrestricted in the lateral direction, for example in that the projections protruding on the bottom side 10 of the dielectric are formed integrally with the material of the dielectric 3.

[0059] On the underside 10 , the contact projection 5 has a web-like projection 13 extending transversely to the central axis 7 , which serves, in a manner described in greater detail below, for the correct positioning of the electrode arrangement 1 in the contact element 2 .

[0060] Figure 2 The flat electrodes 1a, 1b are shown completely embedded in the dielectric material, but at their ends the base of a recess 14 is formed in the contact projection 5 which is open toward the underside 10. The high-voltage signals required for operation can be fed to the relevant electrode 1a, 1b via the recess 14.

[0061] The contact element 2 is used to feed a high-voltage signal to the electrode arrangement 1. The contact element has a housing with a housing bottom part 16 and a housing top part 17, which form a substantially closed housing 15 with a receiving opening 18. The receiving opening 18 can be closed by a wall part 19, which is pivotably mounted on an axis 20 that is fixed in position relative to the housing 15. A groove 21 is formed in the housing top part 17, into which the operating lever 22 can be pivoted when the operating lever 22 closes the receiving opening 18 with the wall part 19. The wall part 19 forms a cover, which on its lower side forms an edge 23, which is closed laterally and toward the electrode arrangement 1, and which, in the closed state of the wall part 19, is parallel to the planar contact projection 5 of the electrode arrangement 1 when the electrode arrangement 1 is in contact with the contact element 2. Via the rotation axis 24 , the wall part 19 is connected to an intermediate connecting rod 25 which is connected by means of a further rotation joint 26 on the one hand to a projection on the actuating lever 22 and on the other hand to a clamping lever 27 which in turn is supported by a rotation joint 28 fixed in position relative to the housing 15 .

[0062] Figure 2 The actuating device for the wall element 19 is shown in the open state. Figure 2a yes Figure 2 Magnified view of detail B.

[0063] Figure 2 It is shown that the receiving opening 18 is delimited downward by a substantially flat bottom 29, from which a contact pin 31, which is sheathed by a dielectric sheath 30, protrudes upward. The shape of the dielectric sheath 30 corresponds to the shape of the recess 14 in the contact projection 5 of the electrode device 1. In the bottom there is also a transverse groove 32, the shape of which corresponds to the shape of the web-like projection 13 on the underside 10 of the contact projection 5. If the web-like projection 13 protrudes into the transverse groove 32, the electrode device 1 is correctly contacted with respect to the contact element 2 and the dielectric sheath 30 of the contact element 31 can engage in the recess 14 if the wall 19 is closed and the lower edge 23 of the wall 19 is pressed against the material of the dielectric 3 by means of prestressing.

[0064] In the contact element 2, there is also a grating support 33, in which two gratings are arranged one after the other between two outer walls and an intermediate wall, which respectively form a gap that can be bridged by each grating. In order to cooperate with one of the gratings, the clamping lever 27 is integrally provided with a protruding projection 34. In order to cooperate with the other grating, a two-arm lever 35 is mounted on a fixed rotation axis 36, one lever arm 37 of which extends into the receiving opening 18, while the other lever arm can extend with its free end into the area of ​​the second grating.

[0065] Figure 2 Also schematically shown is an electrical control 39 in the contact element 2 , which provides the contact pins 1 with high-voltage signals and supplies the light barrier in the light barrier carrier 33 with a suitable operating voltage.

[0066] Figure 3 , 4 and 4a show that according to Figure 1 and Figure 2 An arrangement in which the electrode arrangement 1 is inserted into the contact element 2 and the receiving opening 18 is closed by the wall 19, into which the contact projection 5 of the electrode arrangement 1 projects.

[0067] Compare Figure 2a and 4a The enlarged view of FIG. 2 shows that when the operating lever 22 is closed, the clamping lever 27 pivots so that its protrusion 34 moves from Figure 2a The initial position of the grating extends into the grating gap of the grating support 33. Therefore, the interruption caused by the grating through the projection 34 can identify the correct locking state of the operating lever 22 and thus identify the correct locking state of the operating device for closing the wall part 19 of the receiving opening 18.

[0068] In a similar way, on the one hand Figure 5 , 5a On the other hand Figure 6 , 6a A second possibility for checking the correct insertion of the contact projection 5 of the electrode arrangement 1 into the receiving opening 18 of the contact element 2 is described. For this purpose, a two-arm lever 35 is used, which is pressed into a starting position by means of a second compression spring 40, which engages on a lever arm 37 extending into the receiving opening 18, in which starting position the second lever arm 38 extends with a bent end 41 into the region of the second light barrier of the light barrier carrier 33.

[0069] If the electrode arrangement 1 is correctly inserted into the receiving opening 18 of the contact element 2 and the receiving opening 18 is correctly closed by the wall part 19, as in Figure 6 and 6aAs shown in the figure, the edge 23 of the wall part 19 presses the contact projection 5 downwards onto the end of the lever arm 37, which is thereby pressed into a recess provided for this purpose in the bottom 29, whereby the bent end 41 of the other lever arm 38 is pivoted upwards away from the area of ​​the associated light barrier.

[0070] The switching state of the two gratings is Figure 7 , 7a and 8, 8a are shown in cross-section. In particular, Figure 7a and 8a The enlarged view in FIG. 3 shows the light barrier support 33. A first light barrier 44 represented by a beam can be seen between two wall elements 43 forming a gap 42 open on one side. In a corresponding manner, parallel wall elements 43' form a gap 42' open on one side, in which a second light barrier 45 is formed. The projection 34 of the clamping lever 27 interacts with the first light barrier and the bent end 41 of the lever arm 38 interacts with the second light barrier. Figure 7 and 7a It is shown that in the open state of the operating lever 22 - and thus in the open state of the receiving opening 18 - the first grating 44 shows the reception of the emitted light beam - i.e. the light beam is not interrupted, while the light beam of the second grating 45 is interrupted by the bent end 41 of the lever arm 38 of the double-arm lever 35.

[0071] Figure 8a The light barrier is shown in the closed state of the actuating lever 22, when the contact projection 5 of the electrode arrangement 1 has been correctly inserted into the receiving opening 18. In this case, the bent end 41 is slightly raised in the gap 42', so that the second light barrier 45 is released, and the projection 34 of the clamping lever 27 now interrupts the light beam of the first light barrier.

[0072] Fig. 9 The contacting of the electrodes 1a, 1b with high voltage via the contact pin 31 in the contact element 2 is shown in an enlarged detail. The contact projection 5 of the electrode device 1 in the correctly inserted contact element 2 engages with the web-like projection 13 in the associated transverse groove 32 in the bottom 29 of the receiving opening 18. In the same way, the recess 14 is pressed onto the correspondingly shaped dielectric sheath 30 of the contact pin 31 on the lower side 10 of the dielectric 3. The dielectric sheath 30 completely surrounds the contact pin 31 toward the dielectric 3 of the electrode device 1, except for the non-insulated end-side end 46 of the contact pin 31. The contact pin 31 consists of a solid conductive material, in particular a metal. The electrodes 1a, 1b consisting of the conductive material are completely embedded in the dielectric 3 of the electrode device 1, except for the recess 14, and are pressed onto the non-insulated end-side end 46 of the contact pin 31 by the prestress applied by means of the wall 19, thereby forming a contact suitable for introducing a high-voltage signal into the electrodes 1a, 1b.

[0073] Compared to the recess 14 formed in the same manner, the dielectric sheath 30 is produced with less overdimensioning, so that by pressing the wall 19, the dielectric sheath 30 forms a press fit in the recess 14. In order to simplify the press fit of the dielectric sheath 30 in the recess 14, the dielectric sheath and the recess 14 can be designed slightly conically, so that the dielectric sheath 30 can be introduced into the recess 14 like a funnel. In the embodiment shown, the introduction is further simplified by the fact that the dielectric sheath 30 tapers in a stepped manner toward the end 46 of the contact pin 31, so that two sections of approximately equal length with stepped different outer cross sections are obtained. The outer cross section is preferably circular.

[0074] The press fit of the dielectric sheath 30 in the recess 14 effectively prevents the formation of air gaps at the transition between the dielectric 3 and the dielectric sheath 30, since the dielectric 3 and the dielectric sheath 30 are designed to be sufficiently elastic. Fig. 9 As shown in , the formation of air gaps directed in the longitudinal direction of the contact pin 31 can then be more reliably prevented. The thin lips obtained between the grooves not only simplify the press fit of the dielectric sheath 30 in the recess 14, but also ensure that a continuous air gap is safely prevented from forming in the longitudinal direction of the dielectric sheath.

[0075] The electrode arrangement 1 with the dielectric 3 and the electrodes 1a, 1b is preferably flexible. The electrodes 1a, 1b can be formed from a thin metal foil, but in particular also from a plastic polymer that is made conductive by suitable additives. In this way, the dielectric and the electrodes can consist of similar materials that can be well connected to each other in a planar manner, so that even if the electrode arrangement is bent to a greater or lesser extent during use, the risk of delamination within the electrode arrangement can be avoided.

[0076] Fig.10 The top view of the housing 15 of the contact element 2 with the housing top part 17 removed shows that a control 39 is arranged in the housing, which includes a microcontroller 47, a high-voltage generator stage 48 and a battery stage 49. In this way, the contact element 2 is designed as a complete control and supply device for the electrode arrangement 1 to produce a dielectrically hindered plasma.

[0077] On the contrary, Fig.11 and 12 3 shows a contact element with a controller 39 but without a battery stage 49, since in this case the contact element 2 is connected to an external power source 51 via a cable connection 50. In this case, in order to avoid a high-voltage-resistant connection, the controller 39 can also include a high-voltage generator stage 48, so that a normal AC voltage or a low-voltage DC voltage can be supplied by an external power source.

[0078] The second embodiment of the present invention is Figures 13 to 16 The difference from the first embodiment is only the different design of the contact element 2 ′, which is contactable with the same electrode arrangement 1 .

[0079] The contact element 2' according to this embodiment is designed with an operating lever 52 in the form of a rocker 54, which can be pivoted about a fixed rotation axis 53, and which has a wall part 19 in the form of a cover described in the same way for pressing the contact projection 5 of the electrode device 1 at one end, while a locking button 55 is effective at the other end of the rocker 54, which is explained below. The locking button 55 is slidably mounted on a lever 56 of the rocker 54 that is away from the electrode and is under prestress by two pressure springs 57 to press the locking button away from the lever 56. The lever 58 that forms the wall part 19 and is close to the electrode is supported by a pair of pressure springs 66 ( Fig.16 ) is maintained in the receiving opening 18' Fig.14 After the contact projection 5 of the electrode device 1 has been introduced and correctly positioned, a pressure directed toward the bottom 29' of the receiving opening 18' is exerted on the wall 19, which pressure is Fig.15 and 16 Arrow As a result, the end of the lever 56 of the rocker 54 facing away from the electrode, which is provided with the locking button 55, is pressed upwards, so that the rearwardly directed projection 59 present at the lower end of the locking button 55 reaches in front of a suitable recess 60 in the housing 15', which is pressed into the housing by the compression spring 57 in a locking manner, in order to lock the closed state of the receiving opening 19 in this way.

[0080] In order to unlock, i.e. open the receiving opening 19, for example to remove the electrode device 1, the locking button 55 must be pressed in the direction of the electrode device 1 against the force of the compression spring 57. To make this easier, suitable grooves 61 are provided on the upper side of the locking button 55, which make it difficult for the actuating finger to slip off the locking button.

[0081] All other parts of the contact element 2 ′ are identical to the corresponding parts of the first embodiment and are therefore not described again.

[0082] Fig.13 A top view of the contact element 2' is shown, i.e., like the contact element 2 of the first embodiment, an operating button 62 / 63 for an electrical function (on / off; high voltage on / off) and an indicator light source 64, 65 as a control light for a certain sensor state (lever locked, contact protrusion 5 correctly inserted into the receiving opening 18, 18') can be provided. In addition, a groove 61' for applying pressure can also be provided on the lever 58 close to the electrode.

[0083] Figures 13 to 16 The second embodiment described in the specification is simpler in construction, while the first embodiment is more user-friendly. The increased user-friendliness results from the fact that, due to the lever drive, the receiving opening 18 can be designed larger, which facilitates the correct insertion of the electrode arrangement 1 into the contact element 2. In addition, the lever drive for the actuating lever ensures that pressure can be applied more easily in the locked state of the lever device.

Claims

1. A therapeutic device for treating a body surface with a dielectrically-impeded plasma, An electrode arrangement (1) is provided, wherein at least one electrode (1a, 1b) is arranged in a base section of the electrode arrangement (1), is completely shielded by a dielectric (3) toward a surface to be treated and extends with a connecting conductor (6a, 6b) into a contact projection (5) of the dielectric (3), The invention also comprises a contact element (2, 2'), wherein the contact element has a receiving opening (18, 18') for the contact protrusion (5) and a lever device for opening and closing the receiving opening (18, 18'), and the lever device is used to press the contact pin (31) through the prefabricated recess (14) of the dielectric (3) onto the electrode (1a, 1b) to lead the connection of the AC high voltage power supply to the electrode (1a, 1b). It is characterized in that The electrode arrangement (1) has at least two electrodes (1a, 1b), which are arranged in a base section and are insulated from one another by the dielectric (3) and extend into the contact projection (5) with a respective connecting conductor (6a, 6b). For each connecting conductor (6a, 6b), there is a respective contact pin (31) and a recess (14) in the dielectric (3), At least one of the contact pins (31) is installed in the contact element (2) by means of a dielectric sleeve (30) and is designed to have a non-insulated end side end (46) for forming contact with the relevant electrode (1a, 1b) and at least one dielectric sleeve (30) has an oversize relative to the relevant recess (14) in the dielectric (3). When the non-insulated end side end (46) of the contact pin (31) contacts the relevant electrode (1a, 1b), the sleeve (30) forms a press fit of the sleeve (30) in the dielectric (3) with the oversize by means of the lever device to avoid air gaps.

2. The therapeutic device according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The dielectric sheath (30) has two stepped outer cross sections adjoining one another by at least one step, wherein the outer cross section decreases toward a non-insulated end-side end (46) of the contact pin (31).

3. The therapeutic device according to claim 2, It is characterized in that The recess (14) of the dielectric (3) has a step in its inner cross section which corresponds to a step in the dielectric sheath (30).

4. The therapeutic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, It is characterized in that At least one inner cross section of the dielectric and / or an outer cross section of the dielectric sheath (30) is designed to taper conically toward a non-insulated end-side end (46) of the contact pin (31).

5. The therapeutic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, It is characterized in that The electrode arrangement (1) is of planar design, in which the planar electrodes (1a, 1b) are shielded from the surface to be treated by a planar layer of the dielectric (3).

6. The therapeutic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, It is characterized in that The electrodes (1a, 1b) and the dielectric (3) are flexible.

7. The therapeutic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, It is characterized in that The lever device has a double-arm joystick, which has a joystick end on one side and a control end on the other side. The control end is hingedly connected to a wall part (19) for opening and closing the receiving opening via a rotating joint. The wall part (19) is rotatably mounted on a rotating shaft (20) and is rotatably connected to the control end via an intermediate connecting rod (25).

8. The therapeutic device according to claim 7, It is characterized in that The wall element (19) is designed as a cover which covers the contact pin (31) when the receiving opening (18) is in a closed state.

9. The therapeutic device according to claim 8, It is characterized in that The cover has an edge (23) which closes the wall element (19) and which ends parallel to a flat bottom (29) of the receiving opening (18) when the receiving opening (18) is in the closed state.

10. The therapeutic device according to claim 9, It is characterized in that The dielectric (3) of the contact projection (5) is clamped under preload between the edge (23) of the cover and the flat bottom (29) in the closed state of the receiving opening (18).

11. The therapeutic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, It is characterized in that A first sensor for the closed position of the lever device and a switch controlled by the first sensor for interrupting the supply of high voltage to the electrodes (1a, 1b) are provided.

12. The therapeutic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, It is characterized in that A sensor is provided which detects the complete introduction of the contact projection (5) into the receiving opening (18, 18') after the receiving opening (18, 18') has been closed.

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