Flexible plasma electrode

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of medical equipment, in particular to a flexible plasma electrode which comprises a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer, the first electrode layer comprises a plurality of electrode assemblies, each electrode assembly comprises two parallel ground electrodes, and a gap is formed between the two ground electrodes; the second electrode layer and the first electrode layer are parallel to each other and are arranged in a stacked mode, the second electrode layer comprises a plurality of high-voltage electrodes which are arranged in parallel, and the high-voltage electrodes are arranged right opposite to the gaps; and the first intermediate layer is positioned between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. The design structure that the whole high-voltage electrode is surrounded by the two ground electrodes is adopted, and directionally constrained closed electric field distribution is formed between the high-voltage electrode and the adjacent ground electrodes through a geometric coordination relationship, so that the field intensity coupling effect between adjacent discharge units is effectively inhibited, closed electric field constraint and discharge consistency regulation and control are realized, and the discharge efficiency is improved. The problems of discharge consistency and uniformity among different electrode groups are solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of medical equipment, and in particular to a flexible plasma electrode. Background Art

[0002] Plasma has already achieved excellent research results in sterilization, material surface modification, dental treatment, cosmetic surgery, hemostasis and anti-inflammation, wound healing, skin disease treatment, and tumor treatment, with no signs of side effects or complications. Therefore, integrating plasma into clinical medicine could be used as an auxiliary surgical procedure or to assist drugs in treating diseases or wounds.

[0003] Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) is a common plasma discharge method that can generate stable plasma at room temperature and pressure. Due to its simple device structure and high energy efficiency, it has become one of the most commonly used plasma production methods. Its principle involves placing one or more layers of insulating dielectric within the discharge space. The dielectric can be suspended in the discharge space or cover the electrodes. Because the dielectric prevents the passage of direct current, DBD is typically driven by AC and pulsed power supplies. When the alternating electric field applied between the positive and negative electrodes reaches the gas breakdown strength, the gas between the electrodes breaks down, creating a discharge channel. DBD has been widely used in applications and research in fields such as ozone generation, material surface modification, and environmental pollutant treatment. Surface dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD) is a simple, flexible, portable, and scalable method for generating low-temperature plasmas. It can evenly and effectively treat wound surfaces, making it well-suited for treating biological surfaces.

[0004] Flexible SDBD electrodes, designed based on flexible substrate materials, integrate high-voltage and low-voltage metal electrodes through a printed lamination process. Their unique bendability allows them to adapt to the multi-curvature surface of the human body. However, current applications of flexible SDBD electrodes have encountered challenges such as uneven discharge (especially when bent), severe electrode heating, frequent breakdown during normal operation, and poor electrical safety when treating human skin. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention provides a flexible plasma electrode to address one of the defects in the prior art, effectively suppressing the field strength coupling effect between adjacent discharge units, ensuring that the electric field forms a complete electric field closed curve between the high-voltage electrode and the nearest wrapped ground electrode, and preventing the formation of an electric field superposition effect on the discharge intervals of adjacent groups and affecting the discharge states of other groups. It realizes closed electric field constraint and discharge consistency regulation, and solves the discharge consistency and uniformity problems between different electrode groups.

[0006] The present invention provides a flexible plasma electrode, comprising: The first electrode layer comprises: A plurality of electrode assemblies, each of which comprises: two ground electrodes arranged parallel to each other, with a gap formed between the two ground electrodes; A second electrode layer is provided parallel to and stacked with the first electrode layer, and the second electrode layer includes: A plurality of high-voltage electrodes are arranged in parallel with each other, and the high-voltage electrodes are arranged facing the gap; A first intermediate layer is located between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer.

[0007] According to a flexible plasma electrode provided by the present invention, each of the ground electrodes comprises: Multiple layers of sub-ground electrodes, the multiple layers of sub-ground electrodes are stacked and arranged opposite to each other; A second intermediate layer is located between two adjacent sub-ground electrodes.

[0008] According to the flexible plasma electrode provided by the present invention, the width of the gap is less than or equal to 5 mm.

[0009] A flexible plasma electrode provided by the present invention further includes: a third electrode layer, wherein the second electrode layer is laid between the third electrode layer and the first electrode layer; A third intermediate layer is located between the third electrode layer and the second electrode layer.

[0010] According to the flexible plasma electrode provided by the present invention, the third electrode layer covers the entire electrode assembly and the range where the gap is located.

[0011] According to a flexible plasma electrode provided by the present invention, the first electrode layer further includes: a plurality of first terminal electrodes, wherein the plurality of first terminal electrodes are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of sub-ground electrodes, and each first terminal electrode is connected to all the sub-ground electrodes in its corresponding layer; The second electrode layer further includes: a second terminal electrode, the second terminal electrode being connected to each of the high-voltage electrodes; The third electrode layer further includes: A third terminal electrode is located between the first terminal electrode and the second terminal electrode, and is connected to each of the first terminal electrodes through an impedance loop.

[0012] According to the flexible plasma electrode provided by the present invention, the third electrode layer is a copper sheet.

[0013] According to a flexible plasma electrode provided by the present invention, insulating media are provided on the outer surface of the ground electrode, between adjacent high-voltage electrodes, and on the surface opposite to the third electrode layer and the third intermediate layer, and the first intermediate layer, the second intermediate layer, and the third intermediate layer are all insulating media.

[0014] According to a flexible plasma electrode provided by the present invention, the spacing between adjacent electrode assemblies is the same, and the width of each gap is the same.

[0015] According to a flexible plasma electrode provided by the present invention, the distance between the high-voltage electrode and the two ground electrodes on both sides of the corresponding gap is the same.

[0016] The flexible plasma electrode provided by the present invention is mainly composed of a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer and a first intermediate layer. With the electrode cross-section distribution direction from bottom to top, the second electrode layer, the first intermediate layer and the first electrode layer are stacked in sequence from bottom to top, and the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer maintain a mutually parallel extension state, so that the thickness of the first intermediate layer remains uniform and provides stable support and fixation for the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. The first electrode layer is composed of a plurality of motor components, each electrode component is composed of two mutually parallel ground electrodes, and the electrode components are also parallel to each other, that is, the first electrode layer is composed of paired and mutually parallel ground electrodes. A gap with a certain distance is formed between the two ground electrodes in each electrode component, so that the first electrode layer is composed of ground electrodes and gaps interlaced. The second electrode layer is composed of a plurality of mutually parallel high-voltage electrodes, the number of high-voltage electrodes is the same as the number of electrode components, and each high-voltage electrode corresponds to an electrode component independently, and the high-voltage electrode is arranged directly in the gap of its corresponding electrode component.

[0017] The ground electrode of the first electrode layer and the high-voltage electrode of the second electrode layer form a sandwich structure. The high-voltage electrode is located between the two ground electrodes. Each high-voltage electrode corresponds to two independent ground electrodes. The high-voltage electrode and the two ground electrodes of its corresponding electrode assembly form a group of discharge units, that is, only a gap is formed between the two ground electrodes as a single motor assembly. This gap is a discharge gap. Driven by the pulse voltage electric field, the air in the gap undergoes air gas breakdown, generating discharge plasma, which adheres to the gap interval and contacts the treatment target to achieve treatment of the wound surface.

[0018] By analyzing the mechanism of the breakdown problem of long-term discharge operation of staggered flexible electrodes, the study found that the bending curvature of the flexible electrode is uncontrollably changed during actual application, resulting in a positive feedback process of discharge power formed by the local hot spot phenomenon under normal operating conditions. Moreover, because the staggered thin strip electrode arrangement structure has poor heat dissipation and thermal conductivity, heat accumulates in the position with relatively large curvature during operation, exacerbating the positive feedback breakdown problem of the discharge local hot spot. At the same time, it is necessary to consider the equivalent parasitic capacitance load characteristics of the electrode sheet output to the outside. After repeated design, processing and testing, the sandwich structure of the flexible plasma electrode of this application was finally determined. This structural design can make the electrode discharge more uniform, and the power required is relatively small. In the face of different applications, it is only necessary to flexibly adjust the number of discharge units to meet the needs, and it will not affect the electrode discharge.

[0019] The flexible plasma electrode of the present invention is composed of multiple groups of independent discharge units. It adopts a design structure in which two ground electrodes surround the entire high-voltage electrode. Through a geometric coordination relationship, a closed electric field distribution with directional constraints is formed between the high-voltage electrode and the adjacent ground electrode, effectively suppressing the field strength coupling effect between adjacent discharge units. It can ensure that the electric field forms a complete electric field closed curve between the high-voltage electrode and the nearest wrapped ground electrode, and will not form an electric field superposition effect in the discharge interval of the adjacent group and affect the discharge state of other groups. It realizes closed electric field constraint and discharge consistency regulation, and solves the discharge consistency and uniformity problems between different electrode groups. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the present invention or the prior art, a brief introduction is given below to the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0021] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible plasma electrode provided by an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the structure of a flexible plasma electrode provided by an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3a This is a discharge electrical waveform diagram of a normal operation test experiment of a flexible plasma electrode in a flat state provided by an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3b This is an image of the flexible plasma electrode provided by an embodiment of the present invention in a flat state during a normal operation test experiment, with the electrode surface temperature reaching a maximum of about 30°C; Figure 3cThis is a luminous image of a flexible plasma electrode provided by an embodiment of the present invention during a normal operation test experiment in a flat state; Figure 4a This is a discharge electrical waveform diagram of a normal operation test experiment of a flexible plasma electrode in a bent state provided by an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4b This is an image of the flexible plasma electrode provided by an embodiment of the present invention in a normal operation test experiment in a bent state, with the electrode surface temperature reaching a maximum of about 35°C; Figure 4c This is a luminous image of a flexible plasma electrode provided by an embodiment of the present invention during a normal operation test experiment in a bent state; Figure 5a This is a luminous image of an electrode driven at a pulse frequency of 1 kHz during an electrical safety test experiment of the flexible plasma electrode provided by an embodiment of the present invention simulating the contact area between the discharge electrode and the human body; Figure 5b This is a luminous image of two electrodes driven at a pulse frequency of 1 kHz during an electrical safety test experiment of the flexible plasma electrode provided by an embodiment of the present invention simulating the contact area between the discharge electrode and the human body; Figure 5c This is a luminous image of three electrodes driven at a pulse frequency of 1 kHz during an electrical safety test experiment of the flexible plasma electrode provided by an embodiment of the present invention simulating the contact area between the discharge electrode and the human body; Figure 5d This is a luminous image of four electrodes driven at a pulse frequency of 1 kHz during an electrical safety test experiment of the flexible plasma electrode provided by an embodiment of the present invention simulating the contact area between the discharge electrode and the human body.

[0022] Reference numerals: 100, first electrode layer; 110, electrode assembly; 111, ground electrode; 1111, first sub-ground electrode; 1112, second sub-ground electrode; 1113, second intermediate layer; 112, gap; 120, first terminal electrode; 121, first terminal electrode 1; 122, second terminal electrode 2; 200, second electrode layer; 210, high voltage electrode; 220, second terminal electrode; 300, first intermediate layer; 400, third electrode layer; 410, third terminal electrode; 500, third intermediate layer; 600, impedance loop; 700, insulating medium. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention more clear, the technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the embodiments described are only some of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0024] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship, are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operate in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as limiting the embodiments of the present invention. In addition, the terms "first", "second", and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0025] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "connected" and "connection" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; mechanical connections, electrical connections; and direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediary. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the embodiments of the present invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0026] In the embodiments of the present invention, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, a first feature being "above" or "below" a second feature may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, a first feature being "above," "above," or "above" a second feature may mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. A first feature being "below," "below," or "below" a second feature may mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a lower level than the second feature.

[0027] In the description of this specification, the reference terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example", or "some examples" mean that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the embodiment of the present invention. In this specification, the schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described can be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner. In addition, those skilled in the art can combine and combine different embodiments or examples described in this specification and features of different embodiments or examples without contradiction.

[0028] Compared to using plasma for specific tissue treatment, especially for direct contact with surface dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD), the electrical safety of plasma when it comes into contact with the human body is particularly important. By analyzing the mechanism of breakdown during long-term discharge operation of staggered flexible electrodes, we found that the uncontrollable changes in the bending curvature of the flexible electrodes during practical application, coupled with the positive correlation between the surface charge density and curvature of the metal electrode, indicate that greater curvature leads to higher surface charge density, higher corresponding electric field strength, and stronger discharge. During normal operation, locations with higher curvature also experience higher temperatures, leading to a positive feedback process of discharge power at local hotspots under normal operating conditions. Furthermore, the poor heat dissipation and thermal conductivity of the staggered thin-strip electrode arrangement exacerbate the positive feedback breakdown problem at the local hotspots. Furthermore, the equivalent parasitic capacitance load characteristics of the electrode strips must be considered. Under the same power supply parameters, different equivalent parasitic capacitances will produce different pulse voltage amplitudes on the electrode. To ensure discharge across the entire electrode surface, the power supply input must be adjusted. However, this adjustment also generates varying degrees of heat on the electrode, ultimately affecting the safety of the entire electrode.

[0029] For flexible electrodes used in biomedical applications, the existing solution is mainly a two-electrode structure. The two-electrode structure is simple, easy to manufacture, and has low cost, making it suitable for situations with low requirements and short discharge times. However, due to errors in the manufacturing process, the two-electrode structure cannot discharge uniformly across the entire electrode surface during discharge. Often, due to process errors, the discharge is strong in some areas of the electrode surface, weak in some areas, or even absent. When the input voltage is increased or the device is operated for a long time, it is easy for local overheating to cause thermal breakdown and damage the electrode. This structure is not suitable for flexible electrodes that can be contacted by the human body.

[0030] In order to overcome the limitations of the two-electrode structure, researchers proposed the use of a three-electrode structure to improve the electrical safety of the electrode and the uniformity of discharge, where the first port (HV) is the high-voltage electrode, the second port (GND) is the ground electrode, and the third port is the third electrode.

[0031] Although the three-electrode configuration significantly improves the discharge uniformity defect of the traditional bipolar structure by introducing a third electrode to assist in potential regulation, the three-electrode structure will increase the equivalent capacitance of the entire electrode. Under the condition of maintaining the same discharge gap, the system needs to be matched with a higher capacity power supply, and there is still the problem of electrode thermal breakdown under long-term operation.

[0032] In short, the current electrode structure still has some problems, mainly the problem of thermal breakdown when the electrode is in long-term operation. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the structural design of the electrode, the thermal breakdown of the electrode, etc., and design an electrode that can operate stably for a long time, adapt to bending scenarios, and be safely touched by the human body.

[0033] like Figure 1 As shown, the flexible plasma electrode provided by an embodiment of the present invention includes a first electrode layer 100, a second electrode layer 200 and a first intermediate layer 300. The first electrode layer 100 includes a plurality of electrode assemblies 110, each electrode assembly 110 includes two ground electrodes 111 arranged parallel to each other, and a gap 112 is formed between the two ground electrodes 111; the second electrode layer 200 is parallel to the first electrode layer 100 and is stacked, and the second electrode layer 200 includes a plurality of high-voltage electrodes 210 arranged parallel to each other, and the high-voltage electrodes 210 are arranged opposite the gap 112; the first intermediate layer 300 is located between the first electrode layer 100 and the second electrode layer 200.

[0034] The flexible plasma electrode of an embodiment of the present invention is primarily composed of a first electrode layer 100, a second electrode layer 200, and a first intermediate layer 300. With the electrode cross-section distributed from bottom to top, the second electrode layer 200, the first intermediate layer 300, and the first electrode layer 100 are stacked sequentially from bottom to top. The first electrode layer 100 and the second electrode layer 200 extend parallel to each other, maintaining a uniform thickness of the first intermediate layer 300 and providing stable support for the first and second electrode layers 100, 200. The first electrode layer 100 is composed of multiple motor components. Each electrode component 110 is composed of two parallel ground electrodes 111. The electrode components 110 are also parallel to each other, meaning that the first electrode layer 100 is composed of paired, parallel ground electrodes 111. A gap 112 is formed between the two ground electrodes 111 in each electrode component 110. Thus, the first electrode layer 100 is composed of alternating ground electrodes 111 and gaps 112. The second electrode layer 200 is composed of a plurality of high-voltage electrodes 210 parallel to each other. The number of the high-voltage electrodes 210 is the same as the number of the electrode assemblies 110. Each high-voltage electrode 210 corresponds to an electrode assembly 110 independently, and the high-voltage electrode 210 is arranged in the gap 112 of the corresponding electrode assembly 110.

[0035] The ground electrode 111 of the first electrode layer 100 and the high-voltage electrode 210 of the second electrode layer 200 form a sandwich structure. The high-voltage electrode 210 is located between the two ground electrodes 111. Each high-voltage electrode 210 corresponds to two independent ground electrodes 111. The high-voltage electrode 210 and the two ground electrodes 111 of its corresponding electrode assembly 110 form a group of discharge units, that is, a gap 112 is formed only between the two ground electrodes 111 as a single motor assembly. The gap 112 is a discharge gap 112. Under the drive of the pulse voltage electric field, the air in the gap 112 undergoes air gas breakdown, generating discharge plasma, which adheres to the gap 112 interval and contacts the treatment target to achieve treatment of the wound surface.

[0036] By analyzing the mechanism of the breakdown problem of long-term discharge operation of staggered flexible electrodes, the study found that the bending curvature of the flexible electrode is uncontrollably changed during actual application, resulting in a positive feedback process of discharge power formed by the local hot spot phenomenon under normal operating conditions. Moreover, because the staggered thin strip electrode arrangement structure has poor heat dissipation and thermal conductivity, heat accumulates in the electrode at a position with relatively large curvature during operation, exacerbating the positive feedback breakdown problem of the local hot spot of the discharge. At the same time, it is necessary to consider the equivalent parasitic capacitance load characteristics of the electrode sheet output to the outside. After repeated design, processing and testing, the sandwich structure of the flexible plasma electrode of this application was finally determined. This structural design can make the electrode discharge more uniform, and the power required is relatively small. In the face of different applications, it is only necessary to flexibly adjust the number of discharge units to meet the needs, and it will not affect the electrode discharge. In actual application, the flexible electrode can be bent at will under working conditions to ensure uniform discharge, and can also stably operate normally, with low electrode surface temperature and electrical safety and reliability.

[0037] The flexible plasma electrode of the present invention is composed of multiple groups of independent discharge units and adopts a design structure in which two ground electrodes 111 surround the entire high-voltage electrode 210. Through a geometric coordination relationship, a closed electric field distribution with directional constraint is formed between the high-voltage electrode 210 and the adjacent ground electrode 111, effectively suppressing the field strength coupling effect between adjacent discharge units. It can ensure that the electric field forms a complete electric field closed curve between the high-voltage electrode 210 and the nearest wrapped ground electrode 111, and does not form an electric field superposition effect on the discharge interval of adjacent groups and affect the discharge state of other groups. It realizes closed electric field constraint and discharge consistency regulation, and solves the discharge consistency and uniformity problems between different electrode groups.

[0038] According to an embodiment provided by the present invention, each ground electrode 111 includes multiple layers of sub-ground electrodes 111 and a second intermediate layer 1113 . The multiple layers of sub-ground electrodes 111 are stacked and arranged opposite each other; the second intermediate layer 1113 is located between two adjacent sub-ground electrodes 111 .

[0039] In this embodiment, the ground electrode 111 of the first electrode layer 100 is composed of at least two layers of sub-ground electrodes and a second intermediate layer 1113. The multiple layers of sub-ground electrodes form a structure stacked in sequence from bottom to top, and extend parallel to each other and are arranged opposite each other. A second intermediate layer is laid between two adjacent layers of sub-ground electrodes, so that the thickness of the second intermediate layer 1113 remains uniform. The second intermediate layer 1113 provides stable fixed support for the sub-ground electrodes on its upper and lower sides.

[0040] In this embodiment, the ground electrode 111 of the first electrode layer 100 is composed of two layers of sub-ground electrodes and a second intermediate layer 1113. The two sub-ground electrodes are respectively the first sub-ground electrode 1111 and the second sub-ground electrode 1112. The first electrode layer 100 is a structure in which the first sub-ground electrode 1111, the second intermediate layer 1113 and the second sub-ground electrode 1112 are stacked in sequence from bottom to top. The first sub-ground electrode 1111 and the second sub-ground electrode 1112 extend parallel to each other and are arranged opposite each other, so that the thickness of the second intermediate layer 1113 remains uniform. The second intermediate layer 1113 provides stable fixed support for the first sub-ground electrode 1111 and the second sub-ground electrode 1112.

[0041] In this embodiment, the structural design of the upper and lower sub-ground electrodes forms a flexible plasma electrode with a dual ground loop. Compared to the structural design of a single-layer ground electrode 111, the change in the number of layers is primarily intended to reduce the heat generated by the electrode during discharge. This achieves low-heat consumption and long-term operation of the flexible plasma electrode. During use, the presence of the double-layer sub-ground electrodes distributes the displacement current, reducing dielectric heat loss, further minimizing electrode heating, and ensuring long-term stable operation. Furthermore, a preferential discharge path exists between the high-voltage electrode 210 and the dual ground loop, eliminating any discharge path with the human body. This improves electrical safety during human contact and ensures that the total leakage current flowing into the human body is always controlled within a safe current range, regardless of the size of the contact surface between the human body and the electrode.

[0042] In other embodiments, the number of ground electrode 111 layers can be adjusted. However, adding more ground electrode 111 layers means a thicker electrode. Thicker electrodes have higher mechanical strength and are more difficult to bend, which limits their medical applications. However, reducing the number of ground electrode 111 layers increases heat release and temperature, potentially leading to overheating and breakdown during prolonged use. Two layers represents the best experimental result. The number of ground electrode 111 layers does not affect the depth of the air gap. There are no specific requirements for air gap depth; ensuring the number of ground electrode 111 layers is crucial.

[0043] In this embodiment, the ground electrode 111 is constructed with multiple layers of sub-ground electrodes facing each other from bottom to top. The width and thickness of each layer of sub-ground electrodes must be consistent. This maximizes discharge uniformity between the high-voltage electrode 210 and the ground electrode 111 and prevents local overheating and thermal breakdown. If the ground electrodes 111 are not facing each other, the electric field between the high-voltage electrode 210 and the ground electrode 111 within the discharge unit will be inconsistent during discharge, resulting in uneven discharge. This can lead to thermal breakdown of the electrodes over long periods of operation.

[0044] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the width of the gap 112 is less than or equal to 5 mm.

[0045] In this embodiment, the flexible plasma electrode is applied in the biomedical field. While ensuring the effectiveness of use, it is also necessary to ensure the safety of the human body. Therefore, the present invention reduces the width d of the gap 112, that is, limits the distance between the two ground electrodes 111 of the electrode assembly 110 to within 5 mm, thereby reducing the power required for discharge.

[0046] In this embodiment, the distance between the two ground electrodes 111 of the electrode assembly 110 can be limited to within 1 mm to achieve a better discharge effect.

[0047] According to an embodiment provided by the present invention, the flexible plasma electrode further includes a third electrode layer 400 and a third intermediate layer 500 , wherein the second electrode layer 200 is laid between the third electrode layer 400 and the first electrode layer 100 ; and the third intermediate layer 500 is located between the third electrode layer 400 and the second electrode layer 200 .

[0048] In this embodiment, the flexible plasma electrode primarily comprises a first electrode layer 100, a second electrode layer 200, a first intermediate layer 300, a third electrode layer 400, and a third intermediate layer 500. With the electrode cross-section distributed from bottom to top, the third electrode layer 400, the third intermediate layer 500, the second electrode layer 200, the first intermediate layer 300, and the first electrode layer 100 are stacked in order from bottom to top. The third electrode layer 400, the first electrode layer 100, and the second electrode layer 200 are maintained parallel to each other, ensuring a uniform thickness of the third intermediate layer 500, providing stable support and fixation for the third electrode layer 400 and the second electrode layer 200.

[0049] The third electrode layer 400 can be deployed across all discharge units, achieving a uniform electric field and overall electrode temperature. This design not only significantly reduces the operating temperature of the flexible plasma electrode's skin-contact interface, ensuring low-temperature comfort for human contact, but also effectively balances the temperature distribution across multiple discharge units, eliminating the risk of breakdown in the intermediate layers caused by localized heat accumulation and ensuring the continued stability of the discharge process.

[0050] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the third electrode layer 400 covers the entire electrode assembly 110 and the range where the gap 112 is located.

[0051] In this embodiment, the third electrode layer 400 is distributed over the entire flexible plasma electrode, covering all discharge units and the areas between them. The third electrode layer 400 encompasses the entire plasma discharge unit area formed by the high-voltage electrode 210 and the ground electrode 111. Because heat is generated throughout the electrode during discharge, a fully covered third electrode layer 400 allows for timely heat transfer, compared to designs with partially covered third electrode layers 400. Without full coverage, uncovered locations would be hotter than other locations, making the electrode susceptible to thermal breakdown over extended periods of operation.

[0052] According to an embodiment provided by the present invention, the first electrode layer 100 also includes a plurality of first end electrodes 120, and the plurality of first end electrodes 120 are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the multi-layer sub-ground electrodes, and each first end electrode 120 is connected to all sub-ground electrodes of its corresponding layer; the second electrode layer 200 also includes a second end electrode 220, and the second end electrode 220 is connected to each high-voltage electrode 210; the third electrode layer 400 also includes a third end electrode 410, and the third end electrode 410 is located between the first end electrode 120 and the second end electrode 220, and the third end electrode 410 is connected to each first end electrode 120 through an impedance loop 600.

[0053] In this embodiment, the ground electrode 111 and the high-voltage electrode 210 are both thin strip electrodes. The first electrode layer 100 is mainly composed of an electrode assembly 110 and a first end electrode 120. The number of sub-ground electrode layers of each ground electrode 111 in the first electrode layer 100 is the same as the number of sub-ground electrode layers of the first electrode layer 100 as a whole. The number of first end electrodes 120 is the same as the number of sub-ground electrode layers. One first end electrode 120 is connected to one layer of sub-ground electrodes, that is, one end of each layer of sub-ground electrodes in the first electrode layer 100 is connected to its corresponding first end electrode 120, and the other ends extend in parallel with each other in the same direction. Multiple first end electrodes 120 are also in a state of being independent of each other and extending relatively parallel. The second electrode layer 200 is mainly composed of a high-voltage electrode 210 and a second end electrode 220. One end of each high-voltage electrode 210 is connected to the second end electrode 220, and the other end extends in parallel with each other in the same direction. The first end electrode 120 and the second end electrode 220 are arranged opposite to each other and parallel to each other. Each first end electrode 120 is connected to the positive pulse high-voltage potential interface of the driving power supply, and the second end electrode 220 is connected to the ground potential interface of the driving power supply.

[0054] The third electrode layer 400 includes a third terminal electrode 410, which is disposed between the first terminal electrode 120 and the second terminal electrode 220. An impedance loop 600 is provided between the third terminal electrode 410 and the first terminal electrode 120. This design effectively eliminates static electricity accumulation in the third electrode layer 400 when the device is in a long-term static or power-off state by establishing a controllable charge discharge path. This not only eliminates the potential for breakdown of the intermediate layer caused by charge accumulation between suspended metal electrodes, but also avoids the potential risk of discharge and ignition during human contact, significantly improving the durability, operational stability, and human interaction safety of the flexible plasma electrode.

[0055] An impedance loop 600 is used between the first-end electrode 120 and the third-end electrode 410, replacing the direct grounding scheme. The third-end electrode 410 can be connected to different first-end electrodes 120 through different impedance loops 600, and each impedance loop 600 is controlled differently. This in turn forms an independent circuit control for each first-end electrode 120. That is, the impedance of each layer of sub-ground electrode can be individually adjusted and controlled through its corresponding impedance loop 600. While achieving the electrostatic discharge function, it successfully suppresses the abnormal growth of the electrode equivalent parasitic capacitance, achieving coordinated control of electrostatic protection and parasitic capacitance, thereby ensuring that the system drive power demand remains within a stable and controllable range.

[0056] In this embodiment, the first electrode layer 100 includes two layers of sub-ground electrodes, and therefore there are two first terminal electrodes 120. The two first terminal electrodes 120 are also stacked from bottom to top and arranged parallel to each other. The first sub-ground electrode 1111 is correspondingly connected to the first terminal electrode 121, and the second sub-ground electrode 1112 is correspondingly connected to the first terminal electrode 2 122. The third terminal electrode 410 is connected to the first terminal electrode 121 via a first impedance loop, and the third terminal electrode 410 is connected to the first terminal electrode 2 122 via a second impedance loop.

[0057] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the third electrode layer 400 is a copper sheet.

[0058] In this embodiment, the third electrode layer 400 is made of copper sheet. The third electrode layer 400 should be made of a material that meets requirements such as fast thermal conductivity and easy bending. For example, a metal material with a higher thermal conductivity than copper and easy bending can quickly dissipate the Joule heat generated during the discharge between the high-voltage electrode 210 and the ground electrode 111, achieving efficient heat dissipation. The temperature-averaging copper layer effectively balances the temperature distribution of multiple discharge units, eliminating the risk of dielectric breakdown caused by localized heat accumulation and ensuring the continuous stability of the discharge process.

[0059] According to an embodiment provided by the present invention, an insulating medium 700 is provided on the outer surface of the ground electrode 111, between adjacent high-voltage electrodes 210, and on the surface opposite to the third electrode layer 400 and the third intermediate layer 500, and the first intermediate layer 300, the second intermediate layer 1113 and the third intermediate layer 500 are all insulating media.

[0060] In this embodiment, the first electrode layer 100 wraps the insulating medium 700 on the outer surface of the ground electrode 111, the second electrode layer 200 fills the insulating medium 700 between adjacent high-voltage electrodes 210, and the third electrode layer 400 is covered with the insulating medium 700 on its surface facing away from the third intermediate layer 500, thereby forming a structure in which the insulating medium 700 is provided between each electrode and on the outer surface of the entire flexible plasma electrode. This enables the electrode of the present invention to be in direct contact with the human body, thereby ensuring the effect of using the present invention.

[0061] In this embodiment, the insulating medium 700 can be made of polyimide. In addition to forming a flexible plasma electrode structure, the insulating medium 700 also ensures direct human contact. By separating each electrode layer with the insulating medium 700, a double-ground sandwich electrode structure is formed. Finally, the entire electrode is wrapped with the insulating medium 700, preventing the metal electrode from being exposed. Furthermore, the presence of the insulating medium 700 allows the human body to directly touch the electrode surface, improving the overall effectiveness and safety of the electrode.

[0062] According to an embodiment provided by the present invention, the spacings between adjacent electrode assemblies 110 are the same, and the widths of the gaps 112 are the same.

[0063] In this embodiment, the electrode assemblies 110 are evenly distributed on the first electrode layer 100, and the gap 112 between the two ground electrodes 111 of each electrode assembly 110 is equal. To improve the discharge and temperature rise effect of the electrodes, the discharge units are evenly arranged. If the width of the gap 112 is equal to the distance between two adjacent electrode assemblies 110, it is equivalent to the ground electrodes 111 being evenly distributed on the first electrode layer 100.

[0064] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the distance between the high voltage electrode 210 and the two ground electrodes 111 on both sides of the corresponding gap 112 is the same.

[0065] In this embodiment, the high-voltage electrode 210 is positioned in the middle of the gap 112, equidistant from the two ground electrodes 111 that form the gap 112. This ensures that the high-voltage electrode 210 is centered and, when combined with the surrounding ground electrodes 111, forms a discharge unit that ensures uniform discharge and minimizes heat concentration. By combining the uniformly distributed electrode assemblies 110 and gap 112, the high-voltage electrodes 210 of the second electrode layer 200 can also be evenly distributed.

[0066] This paper proposes a double-ground sandwich flexible plasma electrode, establishes an electrode equivalent model, analyzes the model structure of the flexible electrode with a double-ground sandwich flexible plasma electrode structure, and concludes that the design of the double-ground structure affects the overall electrode electric field. The following is a performance experiment verifying the application advantages of the flexible plasma electrode: (1) Normal operation stability and reliability test experiment under the electrode flat state In order to meet the requirements of performance and application scenarios, the double-ground sandwich structure of the present invention is used to design the flexible electrode. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the normal stable operation test was carried out using a 700W high-power microsecond pulse power supply with an input voltage of 14V, a pulse frequency of 1kHz, an electrode equivalent electrode capacitance of 434pF (measured by the bridge at a frequency of 100Hz), and an impedance (Z) of 10 megohms. The obtained discharge electrical waveform is shown as follows: Figure 3a As shown. It can be seen that the peak discharge voltage is about 5kV and the peak discharge current is 160mA. After a ten-minute normal stability test, the highest electrode surface temperature was measured to be around 30°C. Figure 3b As shown in the luminescence photo Figure 3c As shown, there is no discomfort when touching the electrodes with your hands.

[0067] (2) Reliability test of normal discharge operation under simulated electrode arbitrary bending state Flexible electrodes often need to work in a bent state. We bend the electrodes to simulate the actual working state. The experiment bends the electrodes to the limit and gives the same microsecond pulse drive parameters. The characteristic test results are as follows: Figure 4a As shown in the figure, it can be seen that high curvature bending does strengthen discharge, but for the same electrode pulse amplitude voltage, which remains constant at around 5kV, discharge is significantly enhanced in areas with greater curvature, and the highest temperature point also appears in areas with the greatest curvature. The thermal equilibrium temperature of the entire electrode also rises. After the experiment was run normally for 10 minutes, the highest hotspot temperature at the final thermal equilibrium was around 35°C. Figure 4b and 4c As shown, the human body can be touched normally and there is no abnormality in the operation of the electrodes.

[0068] (3) Electrical safety test experiment simulating the contact area between the discharge electrode and the human body In order to verify the safety of the human body under different contact areas, the power output voltage required for the electrodes under different areas was determined. A 700W high-power microsecond pulse power supply was used to drive one to four electrodes at a pulse frequency of 1kHz. The luminous images were as follows: Figure 5a 、 5b, 5c and 5d, the corresponding input voltages Udc are 14V, 16V, 22V and 23V respectively.

[0069] In the human body safety simulation experiment, a metal plate covered the entire electrode. A wire connected the metal plate to a human body equivalent model. The RMS current flowing through the model was measured using a current coil to assess human contact safety. The measured RMS currents flowing through the normal human body equivalent model were 1.66mA, 1.21mA, 1.40mA, and 2.45mA, respectively, all below the safe RMS current value (10mA). By short-circuiting the skin impedance of the human body equivalent model to simulate the electrode application under injury, the RMS currents flowing through the model were 1.65mA, 0.82mA, 1.50mA, and 2.45mA, respectively. The experimental results show that under both normal and injured conditions, and even when the electrode area is doubled, the RMS current flowing through the human body remains below the safe RMS current value (10mA), ensuring human safety. Furthermore, under the same contact area, the discharge state of the entire electrode is virtually unaffected under both normal and injured conditions.

[0070] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some of the technical features therein. However, these modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the various embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A flexible plasma electrode, characterized in that: include: The first electrode layer comprises: A plurality of electrode assemblies, each of which comprises: two ground electrodes arranged parallel to each other, with a gap formed between the two ground electrodes; A second electrode layer is provided parallel to and stacked with the first electrode layer, and the second electrode layer includes: A plurality of high-voltage electrodes are arranged in parallel with each other, and the high-voltage electrodes are arranged facing the gap; A first intermediate layer is located between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer.

2. The flexible plasma electrode according to claim 1, characterized in that Each of the ground electrodes comprises: Multiple layers of sub-ground electrodes, the multiple layers of sub-ground electrodes are stacked and arranged opposite to each other; A second intermediate layer is located between two adjacent sub-ground electrodes.

3. The flexible plasma electrode according to claim 1, characterized in that The width of the gap is less than or equal to 5 mm.

4. The flexible plasma electrode according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: Also includes: a third electrode layer, wherein the second electrode layer is laid between the third electrode layer and the first electrode layer; A third intermediate layer is located between the third electrode layer and the second electrode layer.

5. The flexible plasma electrode according to claim 4, characterized in that The third electrode layer covers the entire electrode assembly and the range of the gap.

6. The flexible plasma electrode according to claim 2, characterized in that The first electrode layer further includes: a plurality of first terminal electrodes, wherein the plurality of first terminal electrodes are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of sub-ground electrodes, and each first terminal electrode is connected to all the sub-ground electrodes in its corresponding layer; The second electrode layer further includes: a second terminal electrode, the second terminal electrode being connected to each of the high-voltage electrodes; The third electrode layer further includes: A third terminal electrode is located between the first terminal electrode and the second terminal electrode, and is connected to each of the first terminal electrodes through an impedance loop.

7. The flexible plasma electrode according to claim 4, characterized in that The third electrode layer is a copper sheet.

8. The flexible plasma electrode according to claim 4, characterized in that Insulating media are provided on the outer surface of the ground electrode, between adjacent high-voltage electrodes, and on the surface opposite to the third electrode layer and the third intermediate layer. The first intermediate layer, the second intermediate layer, and the third intermediate layer are all insulating media.

9. The flexible plasma electrode according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The spacing between adjacent electrode assemblies is the same, and the width of each gap is the same.

10. The flexible plasma electrode according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The distance between the high voltage electrode and the two ground electrodes on both sides of the corresponding gap is the same.

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