Plasma Generator for Bio-tissue Sterilization and Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sterilization methods for biological tissues, such as teeth, are inadequate in effectively killing bacteria, leading to potential complications during filling procedures.
Innovation Solution
A plasma generator with a plasma tube, reaction source tube, first electrode, and second electrode is used to generate plasma, which excites a plasma source gas and decomposes a reactant to create surface treatment elements for sterilization and repair of bio-tissues, ensuring effective bacterial elimination and tissue repair while maintaining a safe temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ordinary sterilization process is applied to biological tissues, then the sterilization process can be performed, but it cannot effectively kill bacteria
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the sterilization process by using plasma technology instead of ordinary thermal or chemical sterilization. The plasma state (fourth state of matter) provides highly reactive species and energetic particles that can effectively kill bacteria while controlling temperature through gas flow rate and power density parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical or thermal sterilization systems with a plasma-based system. The plasma generator uses electromagnetic fields to create reactive plasma species that chemically interact with and eliminate bacteria, substituting physical/thermal mechanisms with electrochemical plasma mechanisms
2Reliability
If high energy plasma is used to kill bacteria, then bacterial elimination effectiveness is improved, but temperature control becomes difficult and may damage tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic control of plasma parameters including real-time adjustment of gas flow rate, power density, and plasma chamber pressure. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain high reactive species concentration for bacterial killing while controlling thermal energy to prevent tissue damage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition of working gas from molecular state to plasma state (excited state) to generate highly reactive species. The gas undergoes phase transition through electron impact ionization and excitation, creating reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that are effective for sterilization without requiring high thermal energy
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 plasma generator effectively sterilizes and repairs bio-tissues by generating plasma that decomposes reactants into surface treatment elements, such as oxygen radicals and hydroxyl radicals, which remove bacteria and pigments, and bio-compatible materials like hydroxylapatite, ensuring thorough treatment without damaging the tissue.
Implementation Method 1
a plasma source gas within the plasma tube is excited by the first electrode and the second electrode to generate plasma
Implementation Method 2
a reactant is provided to the plasma from the reaction source tube, and is further decomposed by the plasma to generate a surface treatment element
Data Source
AI summary
A plasma generator, a surface treatment method using the same, and a surface treatment method using the same for bio-tissue are provided. The plasma generator comprises a plasma tube, a reaction source tube, a first electrode and a second electrode. The plasma tube has a plasma outlet. The reaction source tube is disposed within the plasma tube, and has a reaction outlet. The first electrode and the second electrode are disposed on the plasma tube, wherein the second electrode is closer to the plasma outlet than the first electrode is. The plasma outlet of the reaction source is not projected beyond a lower portion of the first electrode.