Pluggable Plasma Discharge Tube for Safe Skin Treatment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cold plasma devices for skin disinfection and treatment are inefficient, complex to manufacture, prone to cross-contamination, and unsafe due to high voltage power supplies, with no suitable hand-held, replaceable designs or effective gas extraction systems.
Innovation Solution
A single-electrode plasma device with a low-voltage DC power supply, using a metal electrode and inert gas, featuring a replaceable discharge tube and concentric gas extraction system, designed for safe and efficient quasi-glow plasma generation for skin disinfection and treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If capacitive coupling discharge with two electrodes is used to produce cold plasma, then plasma can be generated, but arcs may occur between the electrode and skin requiring a gap that reduces energy efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful high-voltage electrode from direct contact with the skin by using a dielectric barrier tube. The electrode is enclosed within the insulating tube, allowing plasma generation without direct electrode-skin contact, thus eliminating arcs while maintaining energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The dielectric barrier tube serves as an intermediary between the electrode and the skin. It allows the electric field to penetrate and generate plasma while preventing direct contact and arc discharge, solving the contradiction between plasma generation and arc prevention.
2Use of energy by moving object
If capacitive coupling discharge device is used, then cold plasma can be produced, but the manufacturing process becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into a handheld shell housing and a replaceable discharge tube assembly. This segmentation simplifies manufacturing by allowing each component to be produced separately with optimized processes, then assembled together, reducing overall manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge tube is designed as a disposable or replaceable component with a simplified structure. By making this part inexpensive and easy to replace, the overall device manufacturing complexity is reduced, and the tube can be discarded after use without affecting the main unit.
3Use of energy by moving object
If RF electrode is used for plasma generation, then plasma can be produced, but the skin cannot contact the electrode and RF discharge may produce electromagnetic interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful RF electromagnetic interference into a beneficial low-voltage DC power system. By using a low-voltage DC power adapter instead of RF power supply, the device eliminates electromagnetic interference while still generating effective cold plasma for skin treatment.
4Ease of operation
If the discharge tube touches the skin for treatment, then plasma can be applied directly, but cross-contamination occurs between patients
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge tube is designed as a disposable component that is replaced for each patient. This eliminates cross-contamination risk while maintaining direct plasma application to the skin, as each tube is used only once and then discarded.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is divided into a reusable handheld shell and a disposable discharge tube. This segmentation allows the plasma-generating portion to be easily replaced between patients, ensuring hygiene while maintaining operational convenience.
5Power
If high voltage power supply is used for plasma generation, then sufficient plasma intensity is achieved, but safety hazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful high-voltage power supply into a safe low-voltage DC system. By using a low-voltage DC power adapter, the device maintains sufficient plasma intensity for effective treatment while eliminating the safety hazards associated with high voltage, making it safe for direct skin application.
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 device provides safe, efficient, and controlled quasi-glow plasma for skin disinfection and treatment, reducing cross-contamination risks and eliminating high voltage hazards, while allowing for easy operation and low production costs.
Implementation Method 1
A metal electrode generates quasi-glow cold plasma, which can be used for disinfection and sterilization on sensitive surfaces
Implementation Method 2
The plasma is required to be glow discharge or quasi-glow, so as not to burn the skin
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
This is a pluggable plasma discharge tube device, which is comprised of a replaceable discharge tube and a hand-held shell to which the tube can be plugged in. There is a single electrode inside of the tube; there are no other electrodes outside. This electrode is connected to an output of power supply and another output of power supply is connected to the ground wire of its circuit. The input of the power supply is a 12V or lower, DC (direct current) source, or a battery. The plasma is generated via a contact-tube outside discharge, or a plasma jet from the tube, that uses working inert gas. The plasma discharge tube will produce atmospheric pressure, cold quasi-glow plasma, which can be used for sensitive surface disinfection, sterilization, as well as facial skin rejuvenation, treatment of skin tissue infections and destruction of cancer cells.