Cold Plasma Herb Disinfection in Sealed Portable Vessels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for disinfecting herbs are often ineffective or damaging due to high temperatures, high pressures, or the use of disinfectants, and radiation-based techniques may damage food products, while plasma sterilization methods can be complex and require extensive equipment, making them unsuitable for small quantities or home use.
Innovation Solution
A device using cold plasma technology to disinfect herbs in small quantities, employing a sealable vessel with a power source for electromagnetic power and electrodes to generate plasma directly or indirectly around the herbs, ensuring effective disinfection with minimal damage to the herbs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high temperature or high pressure disinfection methods are used, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but herb quality and nutritional value deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameters from high temperature/pressure to low temperature plasma state, achieving disinfection through plasma's reactive species and UV radiation rather than thermal effects, thus preserving herb quality while maintaining disinfection effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical thermal disinfection systems with plasma-based disinfection, using electromagnetic fields to generate plasma that delivers reactive oxygen and nitrogen species directly to contaminate surfaces, eliminating the need for high temperature and pressure mechanical systems
2Reliability
If radiation-based disinfection techniques are used, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but food product integrity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the radiation type from high-energy ionizing radiation to low-energy plasma-generated UV radiation and reactive species, achieving disinfection through surface-level interaction without penetrating damage to food product structure and integrity
3Reliability
If plasma sterilization methods are used, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and equipment requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable or easily replaceable plasma-generating components such as simple electrodes or plasma cartridges, eliminating the need for complex sterilizable equipment and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining effective plasma disinfection
Solution Approach 2:
The plasma generation system is designed to be self-contained and self-regulating, automatically generating the required plasma conditions without complex external control systems, thereby simplifying the overall device architecture
4Device complexity
If conventional disinfection methods are used, then equipment simplicity is improved, but disinfection effectiveness worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the disinfection mechanism from chemical contact to plasma-based physical-chemical interaction, using reactive plasma species that can penetrate and inactivate microorganisms more effectively while maintaining relatively simple equipment design
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The cold plasma device achieves rapid and effective disinfection of herbs by exposing them to active gas species and UV light, reducing bacterial and fungal contamination by up to 99.7% in a short treatment time, suitable for small quantities and home use without the need for extensive equipment or complex processes.
Implementation Method 1
a plasma generation region, configured to produce cold plasma
Implementation Method 2
at least one electrode... configured to apply an electromagnetic field in the plasma generation region
Implementation Method 3
Non-thermal (or 'cold') plasma refers to plasma wherein the neutrals' temperature, dictated by the neutrals' average random velocity, is low, e.g. below about 55 degrees C.
Implementation Method 4
exposing them to active gas species and UV light
Data Source
AI summary
Device and method suitable for disinfecting herbs in small quantities, e.g. for home use, using plasma, are disclosed. The device comprises a sealable vessel dimensioned and configured to contain herbs in chunks, in granular form such as particles or in powder, in a treatment region of the sealable vessel. The device further comprises a power source configured to generate electromagnetic (EM) power sufficient for plasma generation in a plasma generation region of the sealable vessel. The sealable vessel is optionally detachable from the device. A portable sealable vessel configured to store and transport herbs, the herbs being microbially sealed therein, is also disclosed. The portable sealable vessel may be positioned in a slot of the device so as to generate plasma in the portable sealable vessel and disinfect the herbs. A multi-slot device is also disclosed, enabling plasma disinfection of herbs in a multitude of distinct sealable vessels.