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.

Claims

1. A device for treatment of areas of human or animal skin, mucous membrane or body parts with a cold atmospheric-pressure plasma by generating a dielectric barrier surface discharge, comprising: at least one flexible insulating material (1), a planar flexible high-voltage electrode (2), a planar flexible dielectric (3), a planar flexible grounded electrode (4), a gas supply (7), wherein the flexible high-voltage electrode (2) is embedded between the at least one flexible insulating material (1) and the flexible dielectric (3), and wherein the grounded electrode (4) is applied on a surface of the flexible dielectric (3) that faces a curved surface of a body part to be treated, wherein the flexible high-voltage electrode (2), the flexible dielectric (3) and the flexible grounded electrode (4) of the device form a flexible layered arrangement for providing the cold atmospheric pressure plasma, wherein the flexible layered arrangement forms a hollow body (9) with a closed volume and wherein a plasma can be ignited on an inside of the hollow body (9) or on an outside of the hollow body (9) for treating the curved surface with the cold atmospheric pressure plasma generated by the device.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the grounded electrode (4) is structured as a stripe structure or grid structure, so that dielectric barrier surface discharges can form in the interstices of the structure that remain open.

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that it additionally contains electrical connecting cables (5).

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that metal gauze, metal foil or thin films of metal or conductive elastomer, preferably conductive silicone, are used as the flexible high-voltage electrode (2).

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that metal gauze or stripe-like or grid-like films of metal or conductive elastomer are used as the grounded electrode (4).

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a silicone balloon.

7. Catheters, endoscopes and surgical instruments that contain the device according to claim 1.

8. A method for treating areas of human or animal skin or mucous membrane surfaces by means of a cold atmospheric pressure plasma with the device according to claim 1.

Description

EXAMPLES

[0013] The invention will be explained in more detail on the basis of figures, without being restricted to these figures.

[0014] For this purpose FIGS. 1 and 2 show the basic structure of the inventive device. Of those, FIG. 2 is the assembled planar electrode arrangement while FIG. 1 represents an exploded view of this arrangement for demonstration purposes. FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment in curved form with a gas port for the optional supply of a process gas, and FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of an arm cuff. The basic structure of an electrode system configured as a shapeable silicone ball is schematically illustrated in FIG. 5, and the application of such an inflatable plasma source for treating the inner surface of body cavities in combination with an endoscope is schematically illustrated in FIGS. 6a and 6b.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

[0015] The following reference numerals are used for the attached drawings: [0016] 1 Flexible insulating material (such as elastomer, silicone film) [0017] 2 Flexible high-voltage electrode (such as metal gauze, metal foil, electrically conductive elastomer) [0018] 3 Flexible dielectric (such as elastomer, silicone film) [0019] 4 Grounded electrode: flexible and structured (such as metal gauze, structured metal foil, structured electrically conductive elastomer) [0020] 5 Electrical connecting cable [0021] 6 Insulating elastomer with embedded flexible high-voltage electrode [0022] 7 Gas supply [0023] 8 Arm cuff [0024] 9 Balloon of elastic materials (dielectric with embedded electrodes) [0025] 10 Body cavity [0026] 11 Endoscope coupling [0027] 12 Medical strip [0028] 13 Adhesive points [0029] 14 Interstices of the structure that remain open