Pulsed Plasma Generation via Controlled Electric Arc Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current plasma generating devices struggle to produce truly pulsed plasma with minimal impurities and uniform energy distribution, which is essential for medical applications like skin treatment, as they often result in continuous plasma flow with energy spikes or high flow rates that are impractical and cause discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A plasma generating system comprising a console and hand piece with a cathode assembly of multiple cathodes, a plasma channel with specific geometry, and an extension nozzle that ensures a truly pulsed plasma flow by controlling the voltage and current pulses, and expanding the plasma channel to achieve uniform temperature and energy density distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a continuous plasma flow is used for tissue treatment, then cutting, coagulation, and vaporization can be achieved, but skin damage occurs and the device must be removed between treatments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic pulsed plasma flow instead of continuous plasma flow. The plasma is delivered in controlled pulses with specific duration (e.g., 10-100 milliseconds) and frequency (e.g., 1-100 Hz), allowing the tissue to recover between pulses and preventing cumulative thermal damage while maintaining effective treatment power during active plasma delivery
2Power
If pulsed plasma is generated by heating gas through electric arc, then plasma energy can be increased, but a continuous low-power plasma flow is maintained during off periods causing skin exposure to plasma
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic voltage pulses applied to the electrode to generate plasma only during the pulse duration. During the off period between voltage pulses, no plasma is generated and the plasma-generating gas flows through the treatment area without forming plasma, ensuring complete cessation of plasma exposure to the skin
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the electrical parameters (voltage, current, pulse duration, frequency) to control plasma generation precisely. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves high plasma energy during pulses while ensuring zero plasma during off periods, unlike continuous arc heating methods
3Reliability
If corona discharge is used to generate pulsed plasma, then impurities are absent and short start times are achieved, but the maximum temperature is limited to approximately 2000° C requiring high gas flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the electrical discharge parameters (voltage amplitude, pulse duration, frequency) and plasma-generating gas flow rate to achieve optimal plasma temperature and energy. By carefully controlling these parameters, the system achieves temperatures exceeding 2000° C while maintaining plasma purity and using practical gas flow rates (e.g., 1-10 liters/min)
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dynamic pulsed voltage application rather than static corona discharge. The rapid rise and fall of voltage pulses creates dynamic plasma conditions that achieve higher temperatures and energies while maintaining the purity advantages of corona discharge and enabling practical gas flow rates
4Power
If high gas flow rate is used to achieve required energy in corona discharge devices, then plasma energy can be increased, but patient discomfort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the plasma-generating gas flow rate parameter to achieve the required plasma energy at lower flow rates (e.g., 1-10 liters/min) compared to corona discharge devices. This is achieved through controlled pulsed voltage application that efficiently heats the gas to high temperatures, reducing the need for high volumetric flow rates and thereby minimizing patient discomfort from gas flow
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 generates a truly pulsed plasma with minimal impurities and uniform energy distribution, allowing for safe and effective skin treatment without the need to remove the device between pulses, improving usability and reducing patient discomfort.
Implementation Method 1
heating the flow of plasma generating gas passing through a plasma channel by an electric arc that is established between a cathode and an anode
Implementation Method 2
The rapidly moving electrons strike out other electrons from the gas atoms, forming what is known as an electron avalanche, which in turn creates a corona discharge
Implementation Method 3
By applying the electric field in pulses, pulsed corona discharge is generated
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of generating pulses of plasma using a device comprising a cathode and an anode, the method comprising: a. passing a plasma-generating gas between the cathode and the anode; and repeatedly: b. establishing an electric arc between the cathode and the anode; c. controlling an area of attachment of the electric arc to the cathode; and d. terminating the electric arc.