Electrotechnical Core With Shielding Electrode For Plasma Applicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plasma applicators require complex touch-safe enclosures and additional protection layers, which complicate manufacturing and design, and there is a need for improved plasma applicators that can ensure single-use functionality and efficient plasma distribution on surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a touch-safe electrotechnical core with three electrode structures, including a shielding third electrode, allows for a simpler enclosure design and ensures galvanic isolation, enabling flexible or rigid shapes to adapt to surfaces, with features like single-use capabilities and integrated sensors for monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a plasma applicator uses a conventional two-electrode structure with touch-safe enclosure, then plasma generation is achieved, but the device complexity and manufacturing complexity increase due to additional protection layers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the touch-safe protection function from the external enclosure and integrates it directly into the electrotechnical core by making the first insulation layer touch-safe. This eliminates the need for separate protection layers in the enclosure, reducing device complexity while maintaining plasma generation reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the insulation layer and touch-safe protection layer into a single integrated first insulation layer within the electrotechnical core. This consolidation reduces the number of components and simplifies the overall enclosure structure while ensuring both plasma generation and user safety
2Reliability
If a plasma applicator uses a multi-layer electrotechnical core with three electrode structures, then galvanic isolation and touch safety are improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-assembling the multi-layer electrotechnical core structure with precise layer alignments before final integration. The first, second and third insulation layers are pre-positioned with their respective electrode structures, ensuring galvanic isolation is established before the device enters final assembly, thereby reducing the precision burden on final manufacturing steps
3Reliability
If a plasma applicator is designed for single-use functionality, then reliability and safety are improved, but loss of substance and waste increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the plasma applicator into a reusable electrotechnical core and a disposable cover element. The cover element can be sterilized and reused multiple times, reducing material waste, while the core maintains single-use reliability for critical plasma generation components. This segmentation allows selective disposal of only necessary parts
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
This design simplifies manufacturing, ensures safe and efficient plasma distribution, supports single-use applications, and provides real-time monitoring of treatment efficacy, particularly suitable for large-area wound treatments and extended use scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
By means of a voltage applied to the second electrode structure in the form of a voltage signal, a supplied gas or gas mixture such as air is ionized and converted into a reactive state in the enclosed gas space formed between the plasma applicator and the surface to be treated. A physical plasma is thus generated.
Implementation Method 2
Through collision processes, some atoms of the ionized gas or gas mixture are converted into an excited state. Upon de-excitation, these atoms release their energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation, whose spectrum ranges from the UV and visible spectral ranges to the IR range. The excited atoms and the ions can also interact chemically with each other and bond to form new molecules.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to an electrotechnical core for producing a cold atmospheric-pressure or low-pressure plasma for the treatment of human and/or animal and/or technical surfaces. The electrotechnical core has a side facing the surface to be treated and a side facing away from the surface to be treated and comprises the following layers arranged one over the other, starting from the side facing the surface to be treated: a first insulation layer; a first electrode structure, which is connected to a first contacting means in order to establish electrical contact between the first electrode structure and an energy supply unit and which is grounded during operation; a second insulation layer, which is designed to galvanically isolate the first electrode structure and a second electrode structure from each other; a second electrode structure, which is connected to a second contacting means in order to establish electrical contact between the second electrode structure and an energy supply unit and which, during operation, is driven by a voltage signal that is provided by an energy supply unit and that is sufficient for generating a plasma; a third insulation layer, which is designed to galvanically isolate the second electrode structure and a third electrode structure from each other; a third electrode structure, which is provided with a third contacting means for grounding the third electrode structure during operation.