Treating device for treating a body part of a patient with a non-thermal plasma

Abstract

The invention relates to a treating device ( 1 ) for treating a body part of a patient with a non-thermal plasma, particularly for sterilizing a hand of a human being, said treating device ( 1 ) comprising a housing ( 2 ) for temporarily receiving the body part within the housing ( 2 ) during the treatment and for applying the plasma to the body part within the housing ( 2 ), and an inlet opening ( 3 ) being arranged in the housing ( 2 ) for introducing the body part through the inlet opening ( 3 ) into the housing ( 2 ).

1 . A treating device for treating an object with a non-thermal plasma, for the in-vivo sterilization of a hand of a human being, comprising
 a) a housing for temporarily receiving the object within the housing during the treatment and for applying the plasma to the object within the housing, and   b) an inlet opening being arranged in the housing for introducing the object through the inlet opening into the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The treating device according to  claim 1 ,
 further comprising   a) an integrated plasma generator for generating the non-thermal plasma within the housing, or   b) an inlet for introducing the plasma into the housing wherein the plasma is generated outside the housing.   
     
     
         3 . The treating device according to  claim 2 , wherein the plasma generator comprises at least two electrodes and a barrier between the electrodes, so that the plasma is generated between the electrodes by a dielectric barrier discharge. 
     
     
         4 . The treating device according to  claim 2 , wherein the barrier between the electrodes consists of an electrically insulating and/or dielectric material, particularly polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         5 . The treating device according to  claim 4 , wherein the electrode is adhered to the barrier. 
     
     
         6 . The treating device according to  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the electrodes is connected with a high voltage generator. 
     
     
         7 . The treating device according to  claim 6 ,
 further comprising an outer electric insulation which is electrically insulating the outer electrode of the plasma generator.   
     
     
         8 . The treating device according to  claim 7 , further comprising a gap between the outer electric insulation and the housing for allowing a gas flow through the gap. 
     
     
         9 . The treating device according to  claim 8 , wherein the plasma generator is arranged within the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The treating device according to  claim 9 , further comprising a radiation shielding being arranged between the plasma generator and the object within the housing thereby so as to shield the object against ultraviolet radiation generated by the plasma generator. 
     
     
         11 . The treating device according to  claim 10 , wherein the radiation shielding is gas permeable so that the plasma can flow through the radiation shielding and reach the object. 
     
     
         12 . The treating device according to  claim 10  or  11 , wherein
 a) the radiation shielding comprises several spaced apart shielding elements, and 
 b) the shielding elements are curved or angled so that there is no intervisibility between opposing sides of the radiation shielding. 
 
     
     
         13 . The treating device according to  claim 12 , wherein
 a) the shielding elements are lamellas and   b) the lamellas are arranged in at least two adjacent layers, and   c) the lamellas in the adjacent layers are oppositionally angled.   
     
     
         14 . The treating device according to  claim 12 , wherein
 a) the radiation shielding and/or the shielding elements consist of or are coated with an electrically conductive material, and   b) the electrically conductive material is metal, comprising copper or tin, and   c) the radiation shielding and/or the shielding elements are electrically grounded.   
     
     
         15 . The treating device according to  claim 7 , wherein the electrodes and/or the barrier and/or the outer insulation and/or the radiation shielding is substantially flat and/or layer-shaped. 
     
     
         16 . The treating device according to  claim 15 , wherein the electrodes and/or the barrier and/or the outer insulation comprise a wire mesh. 
     
     
         17 . The treating device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a spacer for preventing a physical contact between the plasma generator and the object within the housing. 
     
     
         18 . The treating device according to  claim 17 , wherein
 the spacer is substantially flat.   
     
     
         19 . The treating device according to  claim 17 , wherein the spacer comprises a wire mesh. 
     
     
         20 . The treating device according to  claim 17 , wherein the spacer is configured and arranged to support the object within the housing. 
     
     
         21 . The treating device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a) the housing comprises an outer wall consisting of an electrically conductive material, or   b) the outer wall of the housing is electrically grounded.   
     
     
         22 . The treating device according to  claim 21 , wherein
 a) the inlet opening in the housing is suitable for introducing a hand or a forearm including a hand and preferably further including an elbow of a human being through the inlet opening into the housing, and   b) the inlet opening in the housing comprises a height which is greater than 2 cm and smaller than 30 cm, and   c) the inlet opening in the housing comprises a width, which is greater than 5 cm and smaller than 65 cm, and/or   d) the housing is adapted for introducing a hand or a forearm including a hand and preferably further including an elbow of a human being into the housing, and   e) the housing comprises an inner length, which is greater than 5 cm and smaller than 65 cm, and   f) the housing comprises an inner width, which is greater than 5 cm and smaller than 65 cm, and   g) the housing comprises an inner height, which is greater than 4 cm and smaller than 30 cm.   
     
     
         23 . The treating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the treating device is configured to provide an after glow within the housing. 
     
     
         24 . The treating device according to  claim 23 , further comprising indicating means for indicating the beginning and the end of the after glow. 
     
     
         25 . The treating device according  claim 24 , further comprising opening/closing means for closing the inlet opening when the plasma generator generates plasma and opening the inlet opening when the plasma generator does not generate plasma. 
     
     
         26 . The treating device according  claim 25 , further comprising a plasma ionization degree sensor configured for detecting the ionization degree of the plasma within the housing. 
     
     
         27 . The treating device according  claim 26 , wherein at least one of the plasma generator, the indicating means and the opening/closing means is controlled based on one or more predetermined and/or individually definable time spans. 
     
     
         28 . The treating device according  claim 26 , wherein at least one of the plasma generator, the indicating means and the opening/closing means is controlled based on the ionization degree of the plasma within the housing as detected by a plasma ionization degree sensor. 
     
     
         29 . A method of using a treating device for sterilizing an object of treatment, the method comprising:
 providing a housing having an inlet opening;   introducing the object through the inlet opening into the housing; and   applying a non-thermal plasma to the object of treatment within the housing, wherein the object of treatment is selected from the group consisting of:   a) an extremity of a human being, comprising a hand or a foot,   b) a surgical instrument,   c) an implant, comprising a heart pacemaker, a stent, an artificial joint, and   d) other devices to be sterilised.   
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the object of treatment comprises an extremity of a human being.