A method for pre-treating a catheter prior to using the catheter in a medical procedure, and a related apparatus, are provided. The method comprises exposing, in a plasma chamber positioned in a medical care center, and under sterile conditions, intraluminal surfaces and extraluminal surfaces of the catheter to plasma. The plasma is electromagnetically-generated adjacently to the intraluminal surfaces and extraluminal surfaces, thereby rendering, at least temporarily, the intraluminal surfaces and extraluminal surfaces of the catheter hydrophilic.

An apparatus and to a method for treating layers using a plasma zone sealed from the outer atmospheric pressure are provided. The apparatus and method include a plasma reactor including a substrate carrier in form of a container receiving means, and a closing element that is joined with the substrate carrier by means of a lifting device.

A method of coating an interior surface of a housing defining a volume includes partitioning the volume into a first zone and a second zone, the first zone isolated from fluid communication with the second zone; introducing one or more reactant gases, plasma, ions, or a combination thereof to the first zone and the second zone; and forming one or more coating layers on all or a portion of the interior surface within the first and second zones via reaction of the reactant gases, the plasma, or the combination thereof. A device for coating an interior surface of a housing is also provided.

A device for coating an interior surface of a housing defining a volume comprising a plurality of reactant gas sources including reactant gases for one or more surface coating processes; first and second closures to sealingly engage with an inlet and outlet of the volume of the housing to provide an enclosed volume; a delivery line fluidically coupled to the first closure and the plurality of reactant gas sources to deliver the reactant gases to the enclosed volume; and an output line fluidically coupled to the second closure to remove one or more reactant gases, byproduct gases, or both from the enclosed volume. A method for coating an interior surface of a housing is also provided.

An apparatus and to a method for treating layers using a plasma zone sealed from the outer atmospheric pressure are provided. The apparatus and method include a plasma reactor including a substrate carrier in form of a container receiving means, and a closing element that is joined with the substrate carrier by means of a lifting device.

A device for coating containers, in particular bottles, including a vacuum chamber, a plasma generator, and a gas lance having an outlet opening protruding into the container for introducing a material to be deposited on an inner wall of the container. The inside diameter of the gas lance in a region of the outlet opening is enlarged relative to the inside diameter in a main section of the gas lance.

Provided is an apparatus and a method for coating objects and in particular containers with at least one first and one second coating station, wherein these coating stations each have at least one first coating electrode and one second coating electrode, and with a supply device for electrical supply of in each case at least one of the coating electrodes. The supply device has a high-frequency generator device for generating an a.c. voltage and/or voltage pulses as well as an a.c. voltage distribution device which distributes this a.c. voltage and/or the voltage pulses respectively to in each case at least one electrode of the first coating station and at least one electrode of the second coating station, wherein the a.c. voltage distribution device is suitable and intended for distributing the a.c. voltages and/or the voltage pulses with a time delay to the electrodes.

Sterilisation apparatus comprising a sterilisation instrument configured inserted through the instrument channel of a surgical scoping device and a withdrawal device for withdrawing the sterilisation instrument from the instrument channel predetermined rate. The sterilisation instrument comprises an elongate probe having probe tip with a first electrode and a second electrode arranged to produce an electric field from received RF and/or microwave frequency EM energy. In operation the instrument may disinfect an inner surface of the instrument channel by emitting energy whilst being withdrawn through the channel.

A plasma deposition apparatus includes a first plasma source that can produce a first plasma confined in a magnetic field, which includes: a gas distribution device configured to supply a gas, a closed-loop electrode defining a center region therein and a central axis through the central region and one or more magnets that are outside an inner surface of the closed-loop electrode. The one or more magnets can produce the magnetic field in the center region. The closed-loop electrode and the one or more magnets can produce the first plasma of activated atoms, molecules, electrons, and ions from the gas. A collimator can collimate the activated atoms, molecules, electrons, and ions produced by the first plasma source and direct the ions to a substrate.

Rapid plasma nitriding is achieved by harnessing the power and increased density of plasma discharges created by hollow cathodes. When opposing surfaces are maintained at the proper voltage, sub atmospheric pressure, and spacing, a phenomenon known as the hollow cathode effect creates additional hot oscillating electrons capable of multiple ionization events thereby increasing the number of ions and electrons per unit volume (plasma density). The present invention describes the harnessing of this phenomenon to rapidly plasma nitride metal surfaces and optionally rapidly deposit functional coatings in a continuous operation for duplex coatings.