Microwave Plasma Sterilisation System for Invasive Tissue Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sterilization methods are inadequate for effectively reducing bacteria and viruses on or within the human body without harming natural flora or causing excessive temperature increases, especially in sensitive areas like wounds and body cavities.
Innovation Solution
A controllable non-ionizing microwave radiation system that generates atmospheric plasma by combining microwave energy with inert gases, allowing for adjustable plasma production to target specific areas with precise control over energy delivery and temperature, using plasma applicators to direct the plasma for effective sterilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sterilisation methods are used, then sterilisation effectiveness is improved, but temperature increases excessively causing tissue damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the sterilising agent from thermal (conventional heat-based methods) to non-thermal (cold plasma). By using atmospheric pressure plasma at room temperature, the system achieves effective sterilisation through reactive species and UV photons rather than thermal energy, thus eliminating excessive temperature increases that cause tissue damage
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical/thermal sterilisation mechanism with an electromagnetic field-based plasma generation system. Microwave or RF fields are used to generate plasma, which then delivers sterilisation through electromagnetic interactions (UV photons, ionisation) rather than thermal conduction, fundamentally substituting the heating mechanism with a non-thermal energy delivery system
2Reliability
If high energy plasma is used for sterilisation, then sterilisation efficacy is improved, but harmful effects on natural flora increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating highly localized plasma treatment zones that can be precisely directed at contaminated areas while sparing surrounding healthy tissue and natural flora. The plasma applicator delivers treatment only where needed, allowing differential treatment intensity - high enough to kill pathogens at the target site but insufficient to harm beneficial organisms in adjacent areas
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic control of plasma parameters including pulsed delivery, variable power levels, and adjustable treatment duration. This dynamic approach allows the sterilisation process to be intensified momentarily to destroy pathogens, then reduced to below harmful thresholds for natural flora, creating a temporal separation between pathogen elimination and preservation of beneficial organisms
3Reliability
If plasma temperature is increased to improve sterilisation, then bacterial destruction is improved, but tissue damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the typically harmful high-energy plasma state into a beneficial non-thermal process. By using atmospheric pressure plasma that operates at room temperature, the system harnesses the reactive species and UV radiation normally associated with high-energy plasma without the damaging thermal effects, effectively converting what would be harmful heat into useful sterilising radiation and chemical reactivity
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 system efficiently reduces bacteria and viruses on or within the body without harming natural flora and maintains surface temperatures below body temperature, ensuring effective sterilization while minimizing tissue damage.
Implementation Method 1
a controllable non-ionizing microwave radiation system that generates atmospheric plasma by combining microwave energy with inert gases
Implementation Method 2
generates atmospheric plasma by combining microwave energy with inert gases
Implementation Method 3
During the process of plasma sterilisation, active agents are produced. These active agents are high intensity ultraviolet photons and free radicals
Implementation Method 4
These active agents are high intensity ultraviolet photons and free radicals
Implementation Method 5
Such plasmas are called non-thermal plasma and their gas temperatures can be as low as room temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A sterilization system having a controllable non-ionizing microwave radiation source for providing microwave energy for combining with a gas to produce atmospheric low temperature plasma for sterilizing biological tissue surfaces or the like. A plasma generating region may be contained in a hand held plasma applicator. The system may include an impedance adjustor e.g. integrated in the plasma applicator arranged to set a plasma strike condition and plasma sustain condition. The gas and microwave energy may be transported to a plasma generating region along an integrated cable assembly. The Integrated cable assembly may provide a two way gas flow arrangement to permit residual gas to be removed from the surface. Invasive surface plasma treatment is therefore possible. The plasma applicator may have multiple plasma emitters to produce a line or blanket of plasma.