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Nano-second Dielectric Barrier Discharge for direct medical applications
Conference proceeding

Nano-second Dielectric Barrier Discharge for direct medical applications

H. Ayan, G. Fridman, A. F. Gutsol, A. A. Fridman and G. Friedman
PLASMA ASSISTED DECONTAMINATION OF BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL AGENTS, pp 229-238
01 Jan 2008
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8439-3_19
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel

Abstract

Engineering Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Science & Technology Technology
Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) is being adapted to medical applications, including those requiring sterilization of surfaces of living tissue. This paper is focused on operation of such systems near living tissue and on a novel discharge where tissue acts as one of the electrodes. Typical DBD is non-uniform on microscopic scale displaying filamentary structure. When surfaces being treated are flat and the discharge gap is uniform, the discharge filaments are distributed relatively uniformly over the surface. Moreover, the filaments are often mobile in this case and surface sterilization is relatively uniform over sufficient exposure times. The situation changes when surface non-uniformities are present. Such surface non-uniformities can be due to inherent skin topology or due to contamination, for example. In the presence of surface non-uniformities, discharge filaments may become pinned. Filament will also tent to accumulate on large non-uniformities near the smallest discharge gap making surface sterilization highly non-uniform. In this study, the authors discussed a methodology for creating highly uniform DBD on non-uniform surfaces using high voltage pulses with few nanosecond rise and fall times. It is demonstrated that such pulses can be created using standard spark-gap circuits. It is also demonstrated that the uniform DBD discharge is more effective in sterilization than DBD with standard sinusoidal or microsecond pulse excitation. Lastly, the extent of uniformity of the new nanosecond DBD discharge was measured by using fast moving photosensitive films and it was demonstrated that no filaments are present in this discharge.

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

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Web of Science research areas
Engineering, Biomedical
Engineering, Mechanical
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