Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090054896 | CONTROL OF MUCUS MEMBRANE BLEEDING WITH COLD PLASMA - The use of non-thermal plasma to treat mucus membrane bleeding is described herein. A non-thermal plasma is generated using an apparatus having a first electrode that receives alternating electrical potentials from a power supply. When placed in an appropriate location proximate to tissue, a non-thermal plasma is generated, the second electrode being human tissue, blood, etc. To reduce the likelihood of an arc being generated, potentially causing tissue damage or pain, the first electrode is partially encapsulated by a dielectric. The non-thermal plasma is applied to the area of bleeding for treatment. | 02-26-2009 |
20100300872 | Methods for Low Temperature Hydrogen Sulfide Dissociation - A method of H | 12-02-2010 |
20110251604 | NANO DISCHARGES IN LIQUIDS - The present invention is direct to a nano-probe corona tool and uses thereof. A nano-probe corona tool is disclosed having a tip with a diameter in the nano-scale, typically around 100 nm. The nano-probe corona tool is constructed of electrically conductive material. On the other end of the tool, a pulsed voltage source outputs a pulsed voltage to generated a pulsed electrical potential at the tip. The pulsed electrical potential at the tip causes a plasma discharge corona to occur. Uses of the corona discharge include, but are not limited to, optical emission spectroscopy, in the enhancement of deposition of coatings and nanoscale welding, e.g., nanotube or nanowires to a contact pad and welding two nanowires together, and in nanoscale surgery. For example, a nano-probe comprising CNTs may be inserted into cell membranes. The resulting corona discharge may be used to destroy tumors within the cell. | 10-13-2011 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100006419 | DEVICE FOR GENERATION OF PULSED CORONA DISCHARGE - The invention is a method and system for the generation of high voltage, pulsed, periodic corona discharges capable of being used in the presence of conductive liquid droplets. The method and system can be used, for example, in different devices for cleaning of gaseous or liquid media using pulsed corona discharge. Specially designed electrodes and an inductor increase the efficiency of the system, permit the plasma chemical oxidation of detrimental impurities, and increase the range of stable discharge operations in the presence of droplets of water or other conductive liquids in the discharge chamber. | 01-14-2010 |
20100145253 | METHODS FOR NON-THERMAL APPLICATION OF GAS PLASMA TO LIVING TISSUE - Method for the non-thermal treatment of human or animal tissue with high-voltage electrical discharge plasma is disclosed. The disclosed method employs current through plasma and through tissue not for the purpose of heating the tissue, but instead to maintain the plasma proximate to the tissue being treated. Also disclosed is a method of limiting the current through plasma and through tissue to minimize tissue heating by placement of an insulator or semiconductor between an electrode and tissue resulting in generation of a high-voltage discharge similar to a dielectric barrier discharge. The disclosed non-thermal plasma treatment can be employed to promote coagulation of blood, sterilization, disinfection, re-connection of tissue, and treatment of tissue disorders without causing significant thermal tissue damage. | 06-10-2010 |
20100168499 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR AIR DISINFECTION AND STERILIZATION - A method for decontaminating bioaerosol with high concentrations of bacterial, viral, spore and other airborne microorganisms or biologic contaminants, in flight at high flow rates. A plasma screen created across the flow of air contaminated with airborne biologic agents renders contaminants non-culturable within millisecond. The technology may cooperate with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. It may be particularly beneficial in preventing bioterrorism and the spread of toxic or infectious agents, containing airborne pandemic threats such as avian flu, sterilizing spaces such as hospitals, pharmaceutical plants and manufacturing facilities, treating exhaust ventilation streams, minimizing biological environmental pollutants in industrial settings, improving general air quality, and preventing sick building syndrome. | 07-01-2010 |
20100219136 | FLUID TREATMENT USING PLASMA TECHNOLOGY - A method for the treatment of fluid including the step of exposing the fluid to a pulsed plasma discharge. The pulsed plasma discharge will be generated using a suitable electrode configuration to generate the plasma discharge in the fluid. Apparatus useful in the method may include a vessel, at least two electrodes for generating a plasma discharge in water, and a flow inlet and a flow outlet to allow water to be passed through the vessel. Also described is an in-line water treatment, where a pulsed plasma discharge is used in a pipe carrying moving water. Plasma based fluid treatment system may have many advantages in comparison to other treatment methods, such as very minimal maintenance, low operating power, and minimal pressure loss through the device. | 09-02-2010 |
20110044884 | HYDROGEN PRODUCTION FROM HYDROGEN SULFIDE - The present subject matter is directed to plasma dissociation of fluidic hydrogen sulfide to hydrogen and sulfur. A reactor is configured to have a plasma discharge and a vortex flow pattern. The plasma discharge provides energy to the hydrogen sulfide disassociation reaction and the vortex flow pattern helps to cause the condensation of sulfur molecules. The condensation of sulfur molecules helps to reduce the amount of energy input required to disassociate a certain amount of hydrogen sulfide. Additionally, the reactor may be configured to have a vortex flow pattern that provides for a recirculation zone in which relatively warm reaction products may exchange their heat energy with relatively cool input fluids. | 02-24-2011 |
20110266209 | PLASMA DISCHARGE SELF-CLEANING FILTRATION SYSTEM - The present invention is directed to a novel method for cleaning a filter surface using a plasma discharge self-cleaning filtration system. The method involves utilizing plasma discharges to induce short electric pulses of nanoseconds duration at high voltages. These electrical pulses generate strong Shockwaves that disintegrate and dislodge particulate matter located on the surface of the filter. | 11-03-2011 |
20120090985 | NON-EQUILIBRIUM GLIDING ARC PLASMA SYSTEM FOR CO2 DISSOCIATION - A reactor for dissociating carbon dioxide, and associated processes and systems, are described herein. In one example, a reactor is provided that is configured to use non-equilibrium gliding arc discharge plasma. In another example, the reactor uses a vortex flow pattern. A diaphragm may be used at the output of the reactor to control the vortex flow pattern. In some examples, the reactor may be configured to have varying upper and lower chamber sizes. | 04-19-2012 |
20120100524 | TUBULAR FLOATING ELECTRODE DIELECTRIC BARRIER DISCHARGE FOR APPLICATIONS IN STERILIZATION AND TISSUE BONDING - 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. | 04-26-2012 |
20120156091 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR TREATING SURFACES WITH SURFACE PLASMA` - Methods and devices for treating surfaces of objects using a non-thermal plasma are disclosed herein. The non-thermal plasma is generated through the use of an apparatus configured to generate a non-thermal plasma on its surface. The apparatus is comprised of a substrate that contains one or more electrodes of different polarity. The electrodes are placed within a layer of the substrate acting as a dielectric layer. The apparatus may also have additional layers to contain the dielectric layer. When an appropriate potential, being either an alternating current or pulsed high voltage potential, is applied and removed from the one or more electrodes, the gas on at least one surface of the apparatus becomes ionized and forms a non-thermal plasma. The electrodes can be configured to be of various shapes and sizes to modify or tune the plasma. | 06-21-2012 |
20130081874 | Electro-Hydraulic Drilling With Shock Wave Reflection - Shock waves produced during electro-hydraulic drilling can be reflected into a rock body where the reflected shock waves are converted from compression waves to tension waves, which are more efficient at breaking down the rock body. A system configured for electro-hydraulic drilling where shock waves produced during drilling are reflected into the rock body includes two electrodes and a shock wave reflector disposed at an electro-hydraulic drill head. The two electrodes are configured to (1) facilitate formation of a spark along a spark path spanning the two electrodes and (2) facilitate a pulse of electricity being passed through the spark to form a primary shock wave emanating from the spark path. The shock wave reflector is configured to reflect a portion of the primary shock wave such that the reflected shock wave is concentrated to a focal region within the rock body. | 04-04-2013 |
20130310731 | METHODS FOR NON-THERMAL APPLICATIONS OF GAS PLASMA TO LIVING TISSUE - Method for the non-thermal treatment of human or animal tissue with high-voltage electrical discharge plasma is disclosed. The disclosed method employs current through plasma and through tissue not for the purpose of heating the tissue, but instead to maintain the plasma proximate to the tissue being treated. Also disclosed is a method of limiting the current through plasma and through tissue to minimize tissue heating by placement of an insulator or semiconductor between an electrode and tissue resulting in generation of a high-voltage discharge similar to a dielectric barrier discharge. The disclosed non-thermal plasma treatment can be employed to promote coagulation of blood, sterilization, disinfection, re-connection of tissue, and treatment of tissue disorders without causing significant thermal tissue damage. | 11-21-2013 |
20130330229 | PLASMA SYSTEM FOR AIR STERILIZATION - A method for decontaminating bioaerosol with high concentrations of bacterial, viral, spore and other airborne microorganisms or biologic contaminants in flight at high flow rates. A plasma screen created across the flow of air contaminated with airborne biologic agents renders contaminants non-culturable within milliseconds. The technology may cooperate with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. It may be particularly beneficial in preventing bioterrorism and the spread of toxic or infectious agents, containing airborne pandemic threats such as avian flu, sterilizing spaces such as hospitals, pharmaceutical plants and manufacturing facilities, treating exhaust ventilation streams, minimizing biological environmental pollutants in industrial settings, improving general air quality, preventing sick building syndrome. | 12-12-2013 |
20140311891 | TUBULAR FLOATING ELECTRODE DIELECTRIC BARRIER DISCHARGE FOR APPLICATIONS IN STERILIZATION AND TISSUE BONDING - 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. | 10-23-2014 |
20140314621 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR TREATING SURFACES WITH SURFACE PLASMA - Methods and devices for treating surfaces of objects using a non-thermal plasma are disclosed herein. The non-thermal plasma is generated through the use of an apparatus configured to generate a non-thermal plasma on its surface. The apparatus is comprised of a substrate that contains one or more electrodes of different polarity. The electrodes are placed within a layer of the substrate acting as a dielectric layer. The apparatus may also have additional layers to contain the dielectric layer. When an appropriate potential, being either an alternating current or pulsed high voltage potential, is applied and removed from the one or more electrodes, the gas on at least one surface of the apparatus becomes ionized and forms a non-thermal plasma. The electrodes can be configured to be of various shapes and sizes to modify or tune the plasma. | 10-23-2014 |