Tubular floating electrode dielectric barrier discharge for applications in sterilization and tissue bonding

Abstract

Disclosed is a device and method for contacting a biological substrate. A non-thermal plasma device delivers a non-thermal plasma discharge using a dielectric conduit, an igniter electrode and a RF electrode. The dielectric conduit fluidicly communicates a gas therethrough and an igniter electrode ionizes at least a portion of the gas. The RF electrode, disposed circumferentially proximate to the exterior of the dielectric conduit, generates non-thermal plasma from the ionized gas. The non-thermal plasma is discharged from the dielectric conduit and contacts a biological substrate. The non-thermal plasma discharge may be suitable for tissue bonding and sterilization applications.

1 . A non-thermal plasma device for contacting a biological substrate, comprising:
 a dielectric conduit capable of fluidicly communicating a gas, plasma, or both, therethrough, the dielectric conduit characterized as comprising an upstream end and a downstream end, the upstream end capable of receiving gas from a gas source, and the downstream end capable of transmitting non-thermal plasma therefrom;   an igniter electrode disposed within the upstream portion of the dielectric conduit, the igniter electrode capable of being energized to give rise to ionized gas proximately located to the igniter electrode; and   a RF electrode disposed circumferentially proximate to the exterior of the dielectric conduit, the RF electrode disposed downstream relative to the gas source, the RF electrode capable of generating non-thermal plasma from the ionized gas.   
     
     
         2 . The non-thermal plasma device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a gas source capable of being connected to the upstream end of the dielectric conduit; and   a substrate capable of contacting with non-thermal plasma discharge.   
     
     
         3 . The non-thermal plasma device of  claim 2 , wherein the substrate comprises soft tissue, biological tissue, metal, plastic, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The non-thermal plasma device of  claim 2 , wherein the substrate is at a first distance from the downstream opening of the dielectric conduit, wherein the first distance is a distance where the non-thermal plasma discharge impinges on a surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The non-thermal plasma device of  claim 2 , wherein the substrate is at a second distance from the downstream opening of the dielectric conduit, wherein the second distance is a distance closer to the downstream opening of the dielectric conduit than the first distance, wherein the second distance is a distance where the non-thermal plasma discharge is a focused, intense micro-column that impinges on a surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         6 . The non-thermal plasma device of  claim 2 , wherein the non-thermal plasma is characterized as being in a detached mode, transferring mode, or attached mode with respect to the biological substrate. 
     
     
         7 . The non-thermal plasma device of  claim 6 , wherein the detached mode is when the non-thermal plasma discharge exits from the dielectric conduit in the shape of a uniformly luminous cone, wherein the transferring mode is when the non-thermal plasma discharge impinges a surface of the biological substrate in a cloud shape, and wherein the attached mode is when the non-thermal plasma discharge impinges the surface of the biological substrate in a focused, intense micro-column. 
     
     
         8 . The non-thermal plasma device of  claim 1 , wherein the gas comprises helium, argon, nitrogen, air, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The non-thermal plasma device of  claim 1 , wherein the dielectric conduit comprises glass, quartz, plastic, ceramic, porcelain, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The non-thermal plasma device of  claim 1 , wherein the dielectric conduit has a diameter in the range of about 0.2 mm and about 1 cm. 
     
     
         11 . The non-thermal plasma device of  claim 1 , wherein the RF electrode comprises water, aluminum foil, stainless steel, stainless steel mesh, copper, silver, any other conducting material, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The non-thermal plasma device of  claim 1 , wherein the RF electrode has a length in the range of about 1 mm to about 20 cm. 
     
     
         13 . The non-thermal plasma device of  claim 1 , further comprising a power supply configured to supply RF power to the RF electrode. 
     
     
         14 . The non-thermal plasma device of  claim 13 , wherein the RF power comprises alternating current at a frequency in the range of about 0.5 kHz to about 500 kHz 
     
     
         15 . The non-thermal plasma device of  claim 13 , wherein the RF power comprises power output at a range between about 0.5 Watt/cm 2  to about 2 Watt/cm 2 . 
     
     
         16 . The non-thermal plasma device of  claim 1 , wherein the igniter electrode comprises tungsten, copper, gold, silver, iron, titanium, platinum, aluminum, any other metal, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The non-thermal plasma device of  claim 1 , wherein the igniter electrode comprises a wire. 
     
     
         18 . The non-thermal plasma device of  claim 1 , wherein the igniter electrode is floating or grounded relative to the non-thermal plasma device. 
     
     
         19 . The non-thermal plasma device of  claim 1 , wherein the igniter electrode is located proximate to the center of the lumen of the dielectric conduit. 
     
     
         20 . The non-thermal plasma device of  claim 1 , wherein the igniter electrode is at a first distance and a second distance from the RF electrode. 
     
     
         21 . The non-thermal plasma device of  claim 20 , wherein the first distance is a distance upstream relative to the RF electrode, and wherein the second distance is a distance within the RF electrode. 
     
     
         22 . The non-thermal plasma device of  claim 1 , wherein the dielectric conduit is a tube, cylindrical tube, rectangular prism, or pyramid. 
     
     
         23 . A method for contacting a biological substrate with non-thermal plasma, comprising:
 fluidicly communicating a gas through a dielectric conduit characterized as comprising an upstream end and a downstream end, the upstream end capable of receiving gas from a gas source, and the downstream end capable of transmitting non-thermal plasma therefrom;   ionizing at least a portion of the gas using an igniter electrode disposed within the upstream portion of the dielectric conduit, the igniter electrode capable of being energized to give rise to ionized gas proximately located to the igniter electrode;   generating non-thermal plasma from the ionized gas using an RF electrode disposed circumferentially proximate to the exterior of the dielectric conduit, the RF electrode disposed downstream relative to the gas source; and   contacting the biological substrate with non-thermal plasma discharge.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 providing a gas, from a gas source, to the upstream end of the dielectric conduit; and   supplying RF power to the RF electrode via a power supply.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the gas comprises helium, argon, nitrogen, air, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the biological substrate comprises soft tissue, biological tissue, metal, plastic, or an combination thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the biological substrate is treated in a manner that effects at least some sterilization of the treated area. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the biological substrate is treated in a manner that promotes the coagulation of blood, thermal coagulative bonding, or chemical denaturing bonding. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the biological substrate is exposed to the non-thermal plasma discharge for a duration in the range of about 3 seconds to about 2 minutes. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 placing the one or more biological substrates at a first distance from the downstream opening of the dielectric conduit, wherein the first distance is a distance where non-thermal plasma discharge impinges on a surface of the substrate in a cloud shape; and   placing the one or more biological substrates at a second distance from the downstream opening of the dielectric conduit, wherein the second distance is closer to the downstream opening of the dielectric conduit as compared to the first distance.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the non-thermal plasma is characterized as being in a detached mode, transferring mode, or attached mode with respect to the biological substrate. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the detached mode is when the non-thermal plasma discharge exits from the dielectric conduit in the shape of a uniformly luminous cone, wherein the transferring mode is when the non-thermal plasma discharge impinges a surface of the biological substrate in a cloud shape, and wherein the attached mode is when the non-thermal plasma discharge impinges the surface of the biological substrate in a focused, intense micro-column. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the dielectric conduit comprises glass, quartz, plastic, ceramic, porcelain, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the dielectric conduit has a diameter in the range of about 0.2 mm and about 1 cm. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the RF electrode comprises water, aluminum foil, stainless steel, stainless steel mesh, copper, silver, any other conducting material, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the RF electrode has a length in the range of about 1 mm to about 20 cm. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the igniter electrode comprises tungsten, copper, gold, silver, iron, titanium, platinum, aluminum, any other metal, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the igniter electrode comprises a wire. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the igniter electrode is floating or grounded relative to the non-thermal plasma device. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the igniter electrode is located proximate to the center of the lumen of the dielectric conduit. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the igniter electrode is at a first distance and a second distance from the RF electrode 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the first distance is a distance upstream relative to the RF electrode, and wherein the second distance is a distance within the RF electrode. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the dielectric conduit is a tube, cylindrical tube, rectangular prism, or pyramid.