Device for the planar treatment of areas of human or animal skin or mucous membrane surfaces by means of a cold atmospheric pressure plasma

Abstract

The invention relates to a device, preferably a collar, for treating areas of human or animal skin or mucous membrane with a cold atmospheric pressure plasma by creating a dielectrically hindered surface discharge, comprising at least one flexible insulating material ( 1 ), a flexible high-voltage electrode ( 2 ), a flexible dielectric ( 3 ), a flexible grounded electrode ( 4 ) and a gas supply ( 7 ), characterized in that the flexible high-voltage electrode ( 2 ) is embedded in the insulating elastomer ( 3 ), having the effect of a dielectric, and the grounded electrode ( 4 ) is applied to the elastomer surface facing the surface to be treated.

1 . A device, comprising:
 at least one flexible insulating material ( 1 );   a planar flexible high-voltage electrode ( 2 );   a flexible dielectric ( 3 );   a planar flexible grounded electrode ( 4 ); and   a gas supply ( 7 ),   wherein the flexible high-voltage electrode ( 2 ) is embedded in between the flexible insulating material ( 1 ) and the flexible dielectric ( 3 ), and the grounded electrode ( 4 ) is applied on a surface elastomer surface that faces a surface to be treated by the device, and   wherein the device generates a dielectric barrier surface discharge, to form a cold atmospheric pressure plasma.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the grounded electrode ( 4 ) is has a stripe structure or grid structure comprising interstices therein that remain open, so that the dielectric barrier surface discharge can form in the interstices. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an electrical connecting cable ( 5 ).   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible high-voltage electrode ( 2 ) is a metal gauze, a metal foil, a thin film comprising a metal, or a thin film comprising a conductive elastomer. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the grounded electrode ( 4 ) is a metal gauze, a stripe or grid structure film comprising a metal, or a stripe or grid film structure comprising a conductive elastomer. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrodes and dielectric comprise an elastic material and can be shaped to form a hollow body comprising a closed volume, and
 wherein a plasma can be ignited both on the inside and the outside of the hollow body.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , in the form of a silicone balloon. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6 , in the form of at least one selected from the group consisting of a catheter, an endoscope, and a surgical instrument component. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , which can be conformed flexibly to an arbitrarily curved surface. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , in the form of a flexible cuff, a medical strip, or a wound covering. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , in the form of an arm or a leg cuff. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , in the form of a medical strip, wherein the medical strip comprises an adhesive point. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10 , in the form of a wound covering, which covers a relatively large skin area and is fixed by an additional bandage. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising, as a power source:
 a simple, inexpensive power-supply unit with small geometric dimensions, or   a battery.   
     
     
         15 . The device  claim 14 , wherein the power-supply unit can optionally be operated in a pulsed mode of operation to regulate an intensity of the plasma. 
     
     
         16 . A method for treating skin or a mucous membrane, the method comprising:
 generating a dielectric barrier surface discharge with an electrode system, to form a cold atmospheric pressure plasma; and   administering the plasma to the skin or a mucous membrane of a human or animal subject in need thereof,   wherein the electrode system comprises a flexible material, such that the electrode system can be conformed to a curved surface, and an outer, electrically conductive surface, which is structured as a grounded electrode, wherein a dielectric barrier surface discharge is generated in the interstices of the structure that remain open.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the electrodes and dielectric comprises an elastic material, and can be shaped to form hollow body comprising a closed volume, and
 wherein a plasma is ignited both on the inside and the outside of the hollow body.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the generating is performed both at atmospheric pressure and at slight overpressure or underpressure, or with a gas mixture. 
     
     
         19 . A method for healing a wound, the method comprising:
 generating a dielectric barrier surface discharge with the electrode system of  claim 1 , to form a cold atmospheric pressure plasma; and   administering the plasma to a patient in need thereof.