Dielectric Barrier Plasma Treatment Pad for Large-Wound Coverage

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dielectric barrier discharge plasma treatment pads are limited in size, leading to challenges in treating larger wounds due to capacitive loading, electrode size issues, and difficulties in maintaining electrical safety compliance, which can result in uneven treatment or failure to ignite plasma.

Innovation Solution

A treatment pad with a pattern of active and non-active areas that allows for offset application, ensuring complete coverage of larger surfaces without capacitive loading, using a flexible dielectric coating and structured spacer to generate plasma, and a controller for controlled activation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the pad size is increased to treat larger wounds, then the treatment coverage area is improved, but capacitive loading increases causing lower voltage and plasma ignition failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment coverage areaVSAvoidplasma ignition reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode is divided into multiple segments arranged in a grid pattern across the treatment zone. Each segment is electrically isolated and can be independently controlled by the power source. This segmentation reduces the capacitive loading on each individual electrode segment, allowing plasma ignition to occur reliably even when treating large surface areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Area of stationary object

If the pad size is increased to treat larger wounds, then the treatment coverage area is improved, but the voltage decreases due to capacitive loading

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment coverage areaVSAvoidvoltage

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode is divided into multiple segments arranged in a grid pattern across the treatment zone. Each segment is electrically isolated and can be independently controlled by the power source. This segmentation reduces the capacitive loading on each individual electrode segment, allowing plasma ignition to occur reliably even when treating large surface areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Power

If a different power source is used to maintain voltage for larger pads, then the voltage is improved, but electrical safety compliance becomes more difficult to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovevoltageVSAvoidelectrical safety compliance complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode is divided into multiple segments arranged in a grid pattern across the treatment zone. Each segment is electrically isolated and can be independently controlled by the power source. This segmentation reduces the capacitive loading on each individual electrode segment, allowing plasma ignition to occur reliably even when treating large surface areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Area of stationary object

If multiple distinct pads are used to treat larger wounds, then the treatment coverage area is improved, but the attachment difficulty and risk of uneven treatment increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment coverage areaVSAvoidpad attachment ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple electrode segments are integrated into a single unified treatment pad structure. The grid pattern of electrically isolated segments allows the pad to cover large surface areas while maintaining simple attachment procedures. The unified pad design eliminates the need to attach multiple separate pads, reducing operational complexity and ensuring uniform treatment across the entire treatment zone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Enables effective plasma treatment of larger surfaces without undertreatment or overtreatment, maintaining electrical safety and compliance, and allowing flexible use on irregularly shaped tissues.

Implementation Method 1

a first electrode to be coupled to a high voltage power source, a dielectric formed by a coating or foil of a flexible material so that the dielectric shields the first electrode from the tissue to be treated

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDielectric barrier discharge:

Implementation Method 2

a spacer comprising a structured surface of protrusions adjacent a side of the dielectric facing the surface to be treated

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical spacing:

Data Source

PatentUS12409333B2Treatment pad for a dielectric barrier discharge plasma treatment

Publication Date: 2025.09.09 PLASMACURE BV

AI summary

A treatment pad for a dielectric barrier discharge plasma treatment of a tissue to be treated of an electrically conducting body, which tissue is used as a counter electrode, said treatment pad comprising: a treatment zone, arranged for at least covering the tissue to be treated; a pattern of one or more active areas, integrated in the treatment zone and arranged for generating a dielectric barrier discharge plasma, each said one or more active areas comprising: a first electrode to be coupled to a high voltage power source; a dielectric formed by a coating or foil of a flexible material so that the dielectric shields the first electrode from the tissue to be treated; and a spacer comprising a structured surface of protrusions adjacent a side of the dielectric facing the tissue to be treated; wherein the treatment zone comprises a complementary pattern of non-active areas, such that a complementary part of the tissue to be treated is covered by the said one or more active areas when the treatment pad is reapplied on the object with an offset.