Cold Plasma Treatment of Living Tissue Without Plasma Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cold plasma devices for treating living biological surfaces are limited in their ability to effectively treat various medical and cosmetic conditions, particularly in generating plasma in proximity to the surface without transporting it, and there is a need for improved devices and methods to enhance treatment efficacy.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that generate cold plasma in a gap between an electrode and the surface of living biological tissue, using a gaseous atmosphere with specific gas compositions and electrical parameters to produce plasma streamers, allowing for localized treatment without transporting the plasma, and a device comprising an electrode, offset component, and gas inlet to facilitate this process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If cold plasma is generated inside a quartz tube and transported as a plasma plume, then the plasma can be directed to skin surface for treatment, but the active species concentration at the surface is reduced during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the plasma generation location from a remote quartz tube and relocates it directly to the treatment surface. By using the surface itself as one electrode and placing the other electrode in proximity, plasma is generated in situ at the treatment location, eliminating the need for transport and preserving active species concentration.
Solution Approach 2:
The gap between the electrode and surface acts as an intermediary medium filled with gas that enables direct plasma generation. This intermediary space allows electrical breakdown and plasma formation exactly where treatment is needed, without requiring plasma to be transported through external pathways.
2Productivity
If the electrode is placed very close to the tissue surface, then the plasma generation efficiency is improved, but the risk of thermal damage and electrical current flow through the patient increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a localized treatment zone in the gap between electrode and surface, confining plasma generation to a specific region. This localized approach allows high plasma generation efficiency at the treatment site while limiting thermal and electrical effects to a small area that can be controlled and monitored.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies partial action by using low power levels (1-100 W) and controlled gap distances (1-10 mm) to generate sufficient plasma for effective treatment without excessive energy input that would cause thermal damage or dangerous current flow through the patient.
3Productivity
If high power is supplied to generate sufficient plasma, then the treatment efficacy is improved, but the thermal effects and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes key parameters including operating frequency (5 MHz or higher), power level (1-100 W), and gap distance (1-10 mm) to optimize plasma generation efficiency. These parameter adjustments enable effective treatment with lower energy consumption compared to conventional low-frequency, high-power plasma systems.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are methods and devices suitable for the treatment of a surface with cold plasma, especially the surface of living biological tissue where the cold plasma is generated in proximity of the surface.