Cold Plasma Therapy Device with Enhanced Safety

Abstract

This invention discloses a cold plasma therapy device with enhanced safety. The plasma therapy device comprises a dielectric barrier made of a material with high dielectric constant (i.e., relative permittivity). Hence the thickness of the dielectric barrier can be increased to produce similar plasma intensity in comparison to a dielectric barrier with a low dielectric constant. The increased thickness enhances the mechanical durability of the dielectric barrier. When the thickness of the dielectric barrier is larger than the maximum discharge gap of the ambient air (or the supplied gas medium) under the voltage applied, no arc discharge will be produced even when there is a crack across the thickness of the dielectric barrier. This minimizes the risk of subject tissue damage from possible electric shocks.

Claims

1. A dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) cold plasma therapy device for treating a subject, the DBD cold plasma therapy device comprising: an electrode; a dielectric barrier enclosing the electrode; and a high voltage power supply applying a high voltage to the electrode to produce a cold plasma discharge in the ambient air or in a supplied gas medium between the dielectric barrier and the subject for treating the subject; wherein the dielectric barrier is made of a material with a high dielectric constant of >5.

2. The DBD cold plasma therapy device of claim 1, wherein the dielectric barrier is made of a material with a high dielectric constant of >10.

3. The DBD cold plasma therapy device of claim 1, wherein the dielectric barrier is made of a material with a high dielectric constant of >20.

4. The DBD cold plasma therapy device of claim 1, wherein the dielectric barrier is made of zirconium oxide.

5. The DBD cold plasma therapy device of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the dielectric barrier is larger than the maximum discharge gap of the ambient air or the supplied gas medium under the applied high voltage.

6. The DBD cold plasma therapy device of claim 1, wherein the material is a composite material comprising two or more layers of materials with high dielectric constants.

7. The DBD cold plasma therapy device of claim 1, wherein the high voltage power supply is a pulsed, high voltage power supply with adjustable output voltage and repetition rate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0006] The accompanying FIGURES, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.

[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates one exemplary embodiment of the DBD device.

[0008] Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the FIGURES may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] Before describing in detail embodiments that are in accordance with the present invention, it should be observed that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus components related to a cold plasma therapy device with enhanced safety. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

[0010] In this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

[0011] In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the cold plasma therapy device comprises a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) probe 100 as shown in FIG. 1, which connects to a high voltage power supply through a high voltage cable (both not shown). The power supply is preferably a pulsed power supply with an adjustable repetition rate and output voltage. The output voltage is preferably in the range from 1 kV (kilovolt) to several tens of kV or even higher. The DBD probe 100 comprises an electrode 102 enclosed in a close-ended tube 104, which serves the dielectric barrier. The high voltage from the power supply produces a cold plasma discharge in the ambient air or in a supplied gas medium between the dielectric barrier 104 (i.e., the close-ended tube) and the subject tissue 106. Electrode 102 is made of an electrically conductive material such as a metal (e.g., copper) connected to the high voltage cable. The close-ended tube 104 can be cylindrical shaped or in other shapes suitable to be applied to the subject tissue 106. The end of tube 104 can be flat, spherical, or in different shapes depending on the application conditions. The close-ended tube 104 is made of a material with a high dielectric constant (i.e., relative permittivity). Preferably, the dielectric constant of the material is >5 and more preferably >10 or even >20. One example of such material is zirconium oxide (zirconia), which has a dielectric constant of >25. In comparison to the material with a relatively low dielectric constant (e.g., quartz, which has a dielectric constant of 3.8), the zirconia-based dielectric barrier can be made much thicker to produce similar plasma intensity under the same applied voltage since the capacitance of the dielectric barrier is proportional to ε.sub.r/d, where ε.sub.r is the dielectric constant and d is the thickness of the dielectric barrier, respectively. The increased thickness enhances the mechanical durability of the dielectric barrier. In an exemplary embodiment, the thickness of the zirconia-based dielectric barrier is larger than the maximum discharge gap of the ambient air (or the supplied gas medium) under the voltage applied such that no arc discharge will be produced even when there is a crack across the thickness of the dielectric barrier. As one example, the ambient air has a breakdown voltage of 3 kV/mm at standard atmospheric pressure. When the thickness of the zirconia-based dielectric barrier is made greater than 6 mm, no arc discharge will be produced between the electrode and the subject tissue under a supplied high voltage of 18 kV even in case the dielectric barrier is cracked. This minimizes the risk of subject tissue damage from possible electric shocks. In a slight variation of the present embodiment, the dielectric barrier of the DBD probe is made of a composite material comprising two or more layers of materials with high dielectric constants to further reduce the risk of crack induced arc discharge.

[0012] In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below. The numerical values cited in the specific embodiment are illustrative rather than limiting. Accordingly, the specification and FIGURES are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims, including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.