CN116114387A

CN116114387A - Apparatus and method for inactivating microorganisms using non-thermal plasma

Info

Publication number: CN116114387A
Application number: CN202180056963.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: B·N·埃克特; B·K·埃克特; H·长
Original assignee: Chiscan Holdings LLC
Current assignee: Chiscan Holdings LLC
Priority date: 2020-06-08
Filing date: 2021-06-10
Publication date: 2023-05-12
Also published as: EP4162776A1; WO2021252816A1; CN116114387A8; JP2023529709A

Abstract

The non-thermal plasma emitter array is controlled to emit plasma based on the application of current at a desired frequency and a controlled power level. A power supply for an array controller includes a transformer that operates at a resonant frequency of a combined capacitance of an array and a cable connecting the array to the power supply. The power into the array is monitored by the controller and may be adjusted by the user. The controller monitors reflected power characteristics, such as harmonics of the alternating current, to determine the initiation voltage of the plasma and/or resonant frequency plasma emitter. The non-thermal plasma emitter arrays may be used in therapeutic, diagnostic and/or medical sterilization applications, such as preventing, limiting and/or treating the progression of diseases caused by infectious agents in the human body.

Description

Apparatus and method for inactivating microorganisms using non-thermal plasma

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an apparatus for driving a non-thermal plasma emitter and controlling the emitted plasma for use in plasma medicine, including therapeutic and diagnostic applications.

Background

Plasma is a substance in an ionized state whose cleaning, decontamination, disinfection, antimicrobial and healing properties are known when applied to inanimate surfaces or tissues. When energy is applied to a substance, a plasma may be created. As the energy input increases, the state of the substance changes from solid to liquid and vice versa. If additional energy is fed into the gas, atoms or molecules in the gas will ionize and change to an energy-rich plasma state, or fourth fundamental state of matter.

There are two types of plasmas, hot and non-hot, also known as cold. The thermal plasma is in thermal equilibrium, i.e. the electrons and heavy particles are at the same temperature. Current techniques create thermal plasmas by heating or subjecting the gas to a strong electromagnetic field applied with a generator. As energy is applied with heat or an electromagnetic field, the number of electrons can decrease or increase, creating positively or negatively charged particles, called ions. The thermal plasma may be generated by a plasma torch or in a high voltage discharge. If the thermal plasma is used to treat a heat sensitive material or surface, it may cause severe thermal drying, burns, scarring and other damage.

To mitigate such damage, methods and apparatus have been created for applying a non-thermal plasma to heat sensitive materials and surfaces. In thermal plasmas, however, the heavy particles and electrons are in thermal equilibrium with each other, and in non-thermal plasmas, the ions and neutral particles are at a much lower temperature than the electrons (sometimes as low as room temperature). The non-thermal plasma may typically operate at less than 104°f at the point of contact. Thus, the non-thermal plasma is less likely to damage human tissue.

To create a non-thermal plasma, a potential gradient is applied between the two electrodes. Typically, the electrodes are in a fluid environment such as helium, nitrogen, heliox, argon or air. When the potential gradient between the high voltage electrode and the ground electrode is sufficiently large, the fluid between the electrodes ionizes and becomes conductive. For example, in a plasma pen, the dielectric tube contains two disk-shaped electrodes of approximately the same diameter as the tube, separated by a small gap. The disc is perforated. A high voltage is applied between the two electrodes and a gas mixture, such as helium and oxygen, flows through the pores of the electrodes. When the potential gradient is sufficiently large, a plasma is ignited in the gap between the electrodes, and a plasma plume (plug) of length up to 12cm is discharged through the aperture of the outer electrode and into the surrounding room air.

Plasma systems that require a forced gas can be very large and cumbersome, requiring the use of a gas tank to supply the fluid necessary to create the plasma. Another disadvantage is that there is only a narrow point of contact between the plasma plume and the surface it contacts. Typically, the plume is typically on the order of 1cm in diameter. This makes the treatment of a large area time consuming and tedious, as the contact point has to be moved back and forth across the area to be treated. Uniformity of treatment across the treatment area can be difficult to control.

Another common method for creating a non-thermal plasma is dielectric barrier discharge ("DBD"), which is a discharge that occurs after a high voltage is applied between two electrodes separated by an insulating dielectric barrier. DBD is a practical method of generating a non-thermal plasma from air at ambient temperature and there are several variations. For example, a volumetric dielectric barrier discharge ("VDBD") occurs between two similar electrodes, with a dielectric barrier on one electrode and the electrodes facing each other. VDBD is limited by the space between the two electrodes, the electrode size, and is not compliant with different surface topography. A surface dielectric barrier discharge ("SDBD") may occur between one electrode and a surface such as skin, metal, or plastic. In a specific example of SDBD known as a floating electrode dielectric barrier discharge ("FE-DBD") variant, one of the electrodes is protected by a dielectric such as quartz and the second electrode is a human or animal skin or organ. In the FE-DBD setup, the second electrode is not grounded and is kept at a floating potential. SDBD treatment areas are limited by the electrode size and, like VDBD, it cannot conform to the surface in contact with the electrode. In current SDBD technology, there is only a single point of contact between the plasma plume and the surface in contact therewith.

Another type of non-thermal plasma is known as corona discharge, which is a discharge caused by ionization of a fluid around a charged conductor. Corona discharge occurs in a region of the electric field that is sharply inhomogeneous, at relatively high pressures, including atmospheric pressure. The field near one or both electrodes must be stronger than the rest of the fluid. This occurs at sharp points, edges or small diameter wires. Corona occurs when the potential gradient of the electric field around a conductor is high enough to form a conductive region in the fluid, but not high enough to cause electrical breakdown or arcing of nearby objects. The ionized gas of the corona is chemically active. In air, this generates a gas such as ozone (O ₃ ) And a gas such as Nitric Oxide (NO), and thereby generates nitrogen dioxide (NO) ₂ ). Ozone is deliberately created in an ozone generator in this way, but otherwise these highly corrosive substances are often objectionable (objectable) because they are highly reactive. It is desirable to take advantage of the reactive nature of these gas molecules.

In addition to generating a non-thermal plasma, it would be desirable to be able to control the plasma so that it can be used for beneficial purposes. It would be desirable to control the length of time that the plasma is generated, the power level of the plasma, and to modulate the frequency and waveform of the plasma. The specific modulation frequency is related to the killing of specific microorganisms including bacterial, viral, fungal and fungal forms. It would therefore also be desirable to be able to control such pulse frequencies of the plasma. In this way, the plasma may be used to produce biological effects that exceed those produced by the reactive species. To ensure that the emitted plasma meets the desired parameters, it would be useful to limit the emission to the desired parameters and to be performed by authorized personnel. For convenience, it would also be desirable for such a controller to be portable and battery powered. It would also be desirable for the controller to be usable with plasma generators of a variety of sizes and shapes.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that drives a non-thermal plasma emitter and controls the emitted plasma for use in plasma therapy.

Disclosure of Invention

The apparatus is a power supply that drives and controls the array of non-thermal plasma emitters at a desired frequency and controlled power level. It creates a high voltage at a high frequency. The power supply is connected to the array using micro coaxial cables. The power supply includes a step-up transformer, a balance driver, and a controller. The power supply is designed such that the transformer operates at the resonant frequency of the combined capacitance of the array and the connecting cable. The power source is preferably a battery and the power into the array is monitored by the controller and may be adjusted by the user.

In one embodiment, the balance driver is directly driven by the controller. The controller monitors the phase relationship between the transformer primary winding voltage and the gate drive voltage and adjusts the drive frequency to resonance. In another embodiment, the balance driver is configured as an oscillator that defaults to driving the transformer at resonance. The signal from the transformer driver generates an interrupt to the controller for synchronizing the current and voltage measurements for power control.

By controlled application of current to the array, the apparatus generates a non-thermal plasma having specific, modifiable characteristics that render the plasma suitable for use in certain medical applications. In generating the plasma, the apparatus also generates non-radical oxygen in the form of ozone, free radical oxygen, and a chemical environment for combining with water in the air to form hydrogen peroxide, and light in both the visible and UVA wavelength bands, at low temperatures and in therapeutically effective amounts. Provided herein are therapeutic regimens for inactivating or destroying airborne and/or transmissible infectious agents, including viruses such as influenza and coronaviruses, bacteria such as MRSA, plasmodium and other parasites, and other pathogens both in vivo and on contaminated surfaces, using the device. In particular, the protocol is described for: sterilizing floors, countertops, metal and non-metal appliances, ventilation and other emergency medical equipment, masks, filters therefor, face masks, and the like; treating a subject exposed to an infectious agent to inactivate the infectious agent before infection spreads; the infected subject is treated to inactivate the infectious agent and reduce symptoms of the infection.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a top view of a first embodiment of a non-thermal plasma emitter array.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the plasma emitter along line A-A of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial top view of a second embodiment of a non-thermal plasma emitter.

Fig. 4 is a partial top view of a third embodiment of a non-thermal plasma emitter without a via in the substrate.

Fig. 5 is a top view of a fourth embodiment of an array with woven plasma emitters.

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrated in perspective view of a portion of the array of fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a photograph of a first embodiment of an array having a flexible substrate and its terminal connection points.

Fig. 8 illustrates a general overview of a non-thermal plasma device having a controller and an external power source.

Fig. 9 is a top view of a non-thermal plasma array partially covered with a flexible sheath.

Fig. 10 is a top perspective view of a plasma array partially covered with a rigid sheath.

Fig. 11 is a top view of a fifth embodiment of a non-thermal plasma array of the present invention, wherein the plasma emitters are in a rectangular arrangement.

Fig. 12 is a top view of a sixth embodiment of a non-thermal plasma array of the present invention, wherein the plasma emitters are in a hexagonal arrangement.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a non-thermal plasma array as a tube.

Fig. 14 is an illustration of a plasma array for treating a patient's face, wherein several smaller arrays are connected to each other to effectively create a larger area plasma discharge.

Fig. 15A-D illustrate ground electrodes having variously shaped points.

Fig. 16 is a front perspective view, shown in partial cross-section, of the power supply of the present invention connected to a plasma emitter array.

Fig. 17 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the proposed power supply.

Fig. 18 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the proposed power supply.

Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a planar transformer.

Fig. 20 is a front perspective view, shown in partial cross-section, of an alternative power supply of the present invention connected to a plasma emitter array.

Fig. 21 is a schematic diagram of a circuit for reverse power detection.

Fig. 22 is a schematic circuit diagram for a frequency sweep function in a plasma driver.

Fig. 23A-D illustrate an alternative arrangement of drivers and arrays.

Detailed Description

The array 100 includes a plurality of non-thermal plasma emitters 107 disposed on a rigid or flexible substrate. The emitter 107 is arranged such that when the array 100 is connected to a voltage source, the emitter generates a plurality of corona discharges. The discharge generates ionized gas, which in turn creates reactive species including ozone and nitric oxide.

Referring first to FIG. 1, a non-thermal plasma array is shown generally at 100. The array includes a substrate 102 having at least two opposing surfaces, sometimes referred to herein as a top and bottom for convenience. A plurality of vias 118 are fabricated in the substrate 102. A plurality of drive electrodes 110 are placed on top of the substrate 102, wherein each drive electrode 110 is centered on one of the vias 118 in the substrate 102. A plurality of ground electrodes 108 are disposed at the bottom of the substrate 102, wherein each ground electrode 108 is centered on a through hole 118 in the substrate 102. The resulting structure of the via, ground electrode, and drive electrode includes a plasma emitter 107. Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a plasma emitter with a through hole. Each of the drive electrode 110 and the ground electrode 108 is generally centered about the through hole 118, but may be off-centered in some embodiments. The shape of each electrode 110 is preferably symmetrical about the through-hole 118, such as hexagonal, circular, triangular, rectangular, square, or other shape, but may be asymmetrical in some embodiments. Fig. 1 and 3 illustrate an embodiment in which the driving electrode 110 is hexagonal.

Fig. 4 shows another embodiment of a non-thermal and ozone plasma array 200, in which the substrate has no through holes. Here, a plurality of drive electrodes 110 are placed on top of the substrate 102, wherein each drive electrode 110 is centered on a ground electrode 108 on the bottom of the substrate 102. The resulting structure of the drive electrode on the dielectric substrate above the ground electrode is also referred to herein as a plasma emitter 107.

Conductive drive tracks 112 on top of the substrate 102 are connected to at least one drive electrode 110. The conductive ground rail 104 on the bottom of the substrate 102 is connected to at least one ground electrode 108. One or more drive tracks 112 may be used to interconnect as many drive electrodes 110 together as desired. Similarly, one or more ground tracks 104 may be used to interconnect as many drive electrodes 108 together as desired. The emitters may be connected in series or in parallel, and for lower drive voltages are preferably connected in parallel.

The drive terminal 111 is connected to the drive rail 112, and the ground terminal 106 is connected to the ground rail 104. The driving electrode 110 is interconnected and connected to the driving terminal 111. Similarly, the ground electrodes are interconnected and connected to the ground terminal 106. The resulting structure is very much like a printed circuit board.

The substrate 102 is made of a dielectric material such as alumina, polycarbonate, polyimide, polyester, polytetrafluoroethylene-impregnated woven glass cloth, polypropylene, glass-reinforced epoxy laminate, and the like. In some embodiments, the substrate has more than one layer, and each layer may be made of a different material. The substrate 102 is made of a rigid or flexible material that can be made to conform to varying surface topography and shapes, such as roughened surfaces, textured surfaces, smooth surfaces. The substrate may be two-dimensional, such as square, curvilinear, rectangular, circular, or hexagonal. It may also be three-dimensional, such as curved, cubic, tubular or spherical.

The substrate may also have an uneven shape or an asymmetric shape. The substrate of rigid material may be shaped into a desired configuration either before or after the plasma emitter is fabricated therein. The substrate of flexible material generally conforms to the desired shape after fabrication of the array.

In a preferred embodiment, the substrate is made of thin FR-4. At a thickness of about 0.2mm, the substrate made of FR-4 is somewhat flexible. Alternatively, the array may be made of a more flexible material, such as polyimide film or PTFE impregnated fiberglass.

Using mass production techniques, the cost of producing the array is small enough that the array can be considered to be either consumable or disposable, simply thrown away or recycled after one or a few uses. Any polymer in the array is consumed by the oxygen plasma in a process commonly referred to as ashing. The etching process can be slowed by adding a thin layer of glass on top of the entire array. The sol-gel process can be used to deposit thick layers on the order of about 100 nm. The thinner crystal layer of Si02, AI203 or Y203 also works and may be deposited by atomic layer deposition or plasma assisted atomic layer deposition, optionally after array combustion (bum-in) for uniform plasma.

The through holes 118 help reduce the array capacitance and are vents for fluid to flow from the drive electrode 110 to the ground electrode 108. Such fluids include oxygen, helium, nitrogen, sulfur hexafluoride, carbon dioxide, air, and other gases. In a preferred embodiment, the fluid is air at ambient pressure, approximately 1 atmosphere. Oxygen in the air is ionized by the plasma generated by the emitter 107, thereby creating ozone. The via 118 is made by drilling, etching, cutting, laser cutting, stamping, or other methods. In certain embodiments, the through-hole liner is a structure that directs fluid to each electrode, such as a pipe, tube, channel, or the like. The through holes 118 may be circular, rectangular, triangular, trapezoidal, hexagonal, or other shapes.

The drive electrode 110 is capacitively coupled to the ground electrode 108 at one or more points where the ground electrode contacts the drive electrode such that when a sufficiently high voltage is applied to the drive electrode 110, the surrounding fluid is ionized and creates a plasma, thereby causing electrons to flow between the drive electrode and the ground electrode.

It is desirable to have a sharp point where the plasma is generated, as this is used to assist in initiating the plasma. The sharp point may take any form, such as a sharp point, a blunt point, a spear point, a radius, and the like. Fig. 3 illustrates an embodiment in which the ground electrode 108 is star-shaped with six sharp points 120. Fig. 4 illustrates an embodiment in which the ground electrode 108 is triangular with three sharp points 120. FIG. 15A illustrates an electrode with six sharp points; FIG. 15B shows blunt points; fig. 15C shows a spear point; and fig. 15D shows radius points.

The drive electrode 110, drive track 112, ground electrode 108, and ground track 104 may be printed, etched, laminated, or otherwise disposed on the substrate 102. They may be made of copper, silver, nickel or any other conductive material. May be insulating, such as by a solder mask, such as

Polyester films of mica, polypropylene, such as +.>

And in other embodiments is uninsulated. For manufacturing convenience, it is preferable that the driving electrode 110 and the ground driver 112 are made of the same material and are simultaneously disposed on the substrate 102. Similarly, preferably, the ground electrode 108 and groundThe ground rail 104 is made of the same material and is simultaneously provided on the substrate 102. Alternatively, the drive electrode 110, drive rail 112, ground electrode 108, and ground rail 104 are made of different materials and may be disposed on the substrate during the same or different times.

Fig. 5 and 6 illustrate another embodiment of a non-thermal array 100 in which a plurality of plasma emitters 107 are created at the intersections of wires woven together. The leads 410 of the drive electrode 408 are woven with the leads 406 of the ground electrode 404 to form a woven array. One electrode is connected to a plurality of insulated wires and the other electrode is connected to a plurality of uninsulated wires. If the wire insulation is polymeric, a coating such as Si02 is preferred to prevent ashing. The air in the interstitial spaces between the wires is ignited to form a plasma. The wire may be copper, silver, nickel or any other conductive material. The wires are insulated with a non-conductive or dielectric material such as plastic, rubbery polymer or varnish. In fig. 5, the emitter 107 is covered by a rigid sheath 520 having a hexagonal aperture 521.

The drive terminal 111 and the ground terminal 106 are printed, cut, stamped, laminated, etched, connected, or otherwise attached to the drive rail 112 and the ground rail 104, respectively. There are at least these two terminals per emitter array, but there may be as many terminals as desired. For example, there may be two terminals per transmitter 107, or there may be more than two terminals per transmitter 107, e.g., if additional terminals are desired for redundancy in the event of a failure, or there is a better placement for connection to a voltage source. Preferably,

terminals

111 and 106 are attached to or integrated with the substrate, such as with pads, banana plugs, ring terminals, spade terminals, pin terminals, and the like.

The emitters 107 may be arranged in a variety of relative positions, such as straight lines, concentric circles, randomly placed, etc. The arrangement of emitters is sometimes referred to herein as an array. The array may take any shape to meet the needs of the user. Typically, the arrangement of emitters 107 is generally symmetrical, such as rectangular or hexagonal, but the arrangement may also be asymmetrical, which may be useful for using a single substrate to target separate regions with different plasma concentrations. Fig. 1 illustrates emitters 107 arranged in rows, with each row offset from the previous row. The same pattern is repeated with as many rows as the user desires to form an array of the desired size. Each row illustrated in fig. 1 has 8 emitters each, but any number of emitters may be used in each row. Each row illustrated in fig. 7 has 8 emitters each, but any number of emitters may be used in each row.

The size of the array ranges from microscopic to macroscopic and, although theoretically unlimited, is in practice limited by manufacturing techniques. In practice, the array is typically less than 5 inches in any dimension. If a larger area of plasma discharge is desired, smaller arrays may be placed side-by-side and connected to each other to effectively create a larger array that is controlled as a single array. Fig. 14 illustrates a plasma array 100 for treating a patient's face, wherein several smaller arrays are connected to each other to effectively create a larger area of plasma discharge. In other cases, smaller arrays are placed side-by-side in size to create larger arrays, but are not connected to each other so that they can be independently controlled.

The plasma may be defined by a number of characteristics including size (typically in meters), lifetime (seconds), density (particles per cubic meter), and temperature. In some embodiments, the first emitter 107 has a different plasma intensity than the second emitter 107. The plasma intensity is determined by a number of factors including dielectric thickness, driving voltage (which determines the duty cycle in which the plasma is ignited and sustained), and atmospheric pressure. Typically, the resulting plasma is fan-shaped, extending about 0.8mm from this point and being fan-shaped at about 120 degrees.

Fig. 7 shows a non-thermal plasma array 100 in which an insulating layer 304 is attached to the substrate 102 below the ground terminal 106 and the drive terminal 111. The insulating layer 304 may be neoprene, a polymer coating,

、/>

Etc.

Fig. 9 shows a non-thermal plasma array 100 with a sheath 520 covering at the plasma emitter. In some embodiments, only some of the transmitters are covered. In a preferred embodiment, sheath 520 is an electrical insulator that acts as a barrier between the array and the surface of interest. The electrical insulator 520 allows the plasma generated from the array to affect and react with the surface of interest, but does not allow fluid to pass through the cover to the created plasma and substrate surface. It is therefore breathable to gas molecules, protects the user or surface from possible electric shocks, and prevents liquids from touching electrodes that might cause a short circuit. Preferably, sheath 520 is flexible and is made of polytetrafluoroethylene ("PTFE") which provides a waterproof yet breathable covering. The flexible sheath may also be made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, neoprene, hydrophobic polyester, hydrophilic polyester, and the like. Fig. 10 illustrates one embodiment of a rigid sheath 520, the rigid sheath 520 having an aperture 521 centered on the through-holes 118 on the non-thermal plasma array 100. Sheath 520 may vary in length, width, and height to fit the size and shape of the non-thermal plasma array. Typically, the sheath is also removable.

The non-thermal plasma array 100 may conform to any shape or size-a size for treating human diseases in various anatomical locations such as the toe, ear, finger, face, etc. Fig. 11, 12 and 13 show examples of additional embodiments of the array 100. Fig. 11 shows a rectangular array 100 of plasma emitters 107, where one side of the array is much longer than the other. This arrangement may be particularly useful for treatment of large, narrow surface areas. Fig. 12 shows a hexagonal array 100 of plasma emitters 107. Fig. 13 shows an array 100 formed as a tube with plasma emitters disposed along the surface of the tube. This arrangement may be particularly useful for treatment of tubular areas such as fingers, such that the interior of the tube remains in contact with the exterior of the finger. This arrangement is also particularly useful for threatening the inner surface of tubular body parts such as the ear canal, where the outside of the tube remains in contact with the inner surface of the ear canal. The tubular array 100 may be preformed on a rigid or flexible substrate. Alternatively, the rectangular array 100 on the flexible substrate may be bent into a tube during treatment.

To create a plasma, a voltage is applied to one or more drive electrodes 110 with a power supply 500, the power supply 500 sometimes being referred to herein as a driver. It creates a high voltage at a high frequency. With the drive electrode 110 at a high potential relative to the ground electrode 108, current flows through the drive electrode 110 and through the fluid in the through holes 118 and around the array. The fluid is ionized to create a plasma region around each drive electrode 110, ground electrode 108, or both. Ions from the ionized fluid transfer charge to the plurality of ground electrodes 108 or regions of lower potential. In a preferred embodiment, the power supply 500 drives and controls the non-thermal plasma emitter array 100 at a desired frequency at a controlled power level. The power supply 500 is connected to the controller 204 either by wire or wirelessly. The controller 204 controls the functionality of the array 100 such as time on/off, plasma strength, plasma field strength from electrode to electrode, frequency, power, etc. The characteristics of the power supply will depend largely on the size of the array.

The power supply 500 is connected to the array 100 using micro-coaxial cables, leads 502, or other connectors (generally referred to herein as cables 202). See fig. 16. The power supply 500 includes a step-up transformer 201, a balance driver, and a controller 204. See fig. 17. The power supply 500 further includes a power supply 506, which is preferably a battery. The power into the array is monitored by the controller 204 and may be adjusted by the user.

The inductance of the secondary winding of the transformer and the combined capacitance of the array and the cable form a parallel LC circuit with a specific resonant frequency. This arrangement takes advantage of resonance phenomena that occur when a vibrating system or external force (such as power supply 500) drives another system (such as array 100) to oscillate at a greater amplitude at a particular preferred frequency. The modulation frequency may be set manually. However, since the Q factor of the resonant circuit is relatively high (above 300), such that the frequency range of the device resonance is relatively small, an auto-tuning mechanism is preferred for reliable operation. This is accomplished by monitoring the phase relationship between the voltage and current on the primary winding to determine when the transformer is operating at resonance. In a preferred embodiment, the drive frequency is in the range of 100kHz to allow for a relatively wide range of modulation frequencies. However, the described invention can operate in a very wide range of 10kHz to over 10MHz, depending on the driving electronics.

The preferred embodiment will resonate with a tuned step-up transformer at the combined capacitance of the array 100 and the cable 202 to generate a high voltage AC at the array 100. The high Q of the tuning circuit produces a clean sinusoidal drive waveform to minimize harmonic radiation and provide voltage boosting. The controller 204 adjusts the transformer drive frequency to the resonant frequency of the tuned circuit. The resulting plasma frequency is typically kept stable and pulsed to create a modulated treatment frequency. However, it is also possible to monitor the transformer secondary or primary voltage when adjusting the modulation frequency to detect a change in the breakdown voltage relative to the modulation frequency. This can be used to adjust the modulation frequency for maximum therapeutic effect.

The input power for the array driver is typically DC, although the array itself requires AC in nature. The power supply 500 converts DC to AC. Typically, the plasma frequency will operate at a given frequency between about 50-100 kHz. In a preferred embodiment, the AC voltage applied to the drive electrodes is modulated in pulses, typically at a frequency of between above 0Hz and about 10 kHz. Modulation is accomplished by tuning the frequency on and off, i.e., generating the modulation digitally by pulse width modulation of the primary drive waveform of the transformer. This may be square wave modulation, or other waveform types, such as sine waves. For example, for a 50Hz plasma frequency, the array emits periodic pulses of 50Hz energy. Alternatively, a continuous wave voltage is applied to the drive electrode.

A correlation between the modulation frequency and the biological effect has been observed. Modulation frequency scanning functions in the plasma driver may use the relative plasma power measurements to determine an optimal modulation frequency for treating a particular condition or for measuring the progress of treatment. To obtain more detailed information on the interactions between the living beings and the plasma arrays, a search was made for radio signals within the scope of the oxygen maser (maser) mechanism. See fig. 22.

If the therapeutic plasma frequency is found, the plasma frequency can be adjusted by adding a parallel capacitance of an appropriate value. Since the voltage is about 1kV RMS, this is typically done by switching the high voltage capacitor with a relay. A practical solution would typically use a set of seven binary correlation values. The AC drive voltage may also be modulated if the therapeutic modulation frequency is found. This will typically be done by adjusting the timer value in the digital controller in the drive.

The preferred embodiment monitors the transformer primary voltage and current, uses this data for power control and hardware interlocks to mitigate catastrophic failure of the electronics. Excessive power will shorten the life of the array. Since the array will eventually fail due to corrosion of the dielectric, the fast current limit will allow for an elegant and safe end of operation.

Fig. 18 shows a typical system level block diagram. The array 100 is connected to the power supply 500 with a cable 202, preferably using a connector (as opposed to hard wiring), so that the cable can be easily removed and reused in the event of a final array failure. The cable 202 preferably has connectors at both ends. The transformer 703 provides a high voltage to the plasma array 100. Resistor 705 provides a high voltage monitor point for secondary voltage monitor 706. A secondary current monitor 704 is connected to the cold side of the transformer secondary.

In a preferred embodiment, the variable voltage power supply 506 is connected to the transformer primary center tap and a pair of MOSFETs 708 provide balanced drive to the primary winding of the transformer 703. The controller 204 uses the primary voltage and current amplitude and phase monitor 709 to provide the appropriate duty cycle and frequency for the transformer.

In alternative embodiments, the transformer driver may be configured as an oscillator, so the transformer defaults to operating at the resonant frequency. In this case, a signal from the transformer driver is sent to the controller to synchronize the measurement of the voltage and current. This may be used for accurate power measurements, for example.

In another embodiment, power supply 500 includes a resonant transformer 201 with a half-bridge driver on the transformer primary. See fig. 17. The transformer primary bias is derived from a boost converter 212 connected to the power supply. The power source may be internal to the power source, such as battery 208, or external to the power source, such as a cellular telephone charger or a vehicle power outlet connected to the main power source. For accurate power monitoring, the transformer secondary voltage is monitored by

capacitors

205 and 206. The secondary current is monitored through sense resistor 207.

In one example, a typical large array (e.g., an array with closely spaced transmitters in an area of approximately 2.5 inches by 6 inches) would have a typical capacitance of 720pF in combination with an RG-178 coaxial cable that is 4 feet long. The step-up transformer 201 resonates with a capacitive load comprised of the coaxial cable 202 and the planar microplasma array 100. The primary power source is a rechargeable lithium battery 208. This is charged through the USB connector 223, which USB connector 223 is also an external data interface to the controller 204.

To allow for rapid switching off of the array power in the event of an over-current caused by an array fault, the boost converter 212 switching element is driven by the controller 204. Capacitor 211 provides charge storage for the high current pulses through boost inductor 212. The switching element 213 may be driven by an amplifier to obtain additional drive current and/or voltage. The boosted flyback voltage is rectified by diode 214 and filtered by capacitor 215. Resistor 216 reduces the voltage to a suitable range for controller 204.

The inductor 217 is optional but allows for a higher duty cycle on the drive switching element 218, reducing switching element losses, while improving the spectral purity of the transformer output for EMC compatibility. The transformer primary voltage is sampled through resistor 219 to determine the transformer resonant frequency in auto-tune mode.

The preferred embodiment uses a planar transformer with an "EI" type core. See fig. 19. The "I" side 601 is placed on top, away from the winding PCB 603. The "E" side 602 is placed at the bottom. This places the air gap 604 for setting the transformer inductance on top of the core instead of in the middle. The magnetic flux concentrated around the air gap will increase the AC losses, so the transformer winding (in particular the primary winding) is placed as far away from the air gap as possible. A typical transformer design uses a planar ferrite core with 12 layers of FR-4 PCB. With a 135:1:1 turns ratio, a typical large array would operate at 50kHz with an air gap AL value of 700 nH/N2.

The preferred embodiment uses a controller, such as a microcontroller, FPGA or CPLD, to directly control the switching of current on the primary winding of the transformer. When a pair of N-channel MOSFETs is used, this is typically between 50kHz and 500 kHz. Buffer amplifiers may be used to increase the gate drive voltage and/or current. An advantage of this arrangement is the ability of the controller to immediately stop switching in the event of an over-current condition caused by an array fault.

The preferred embodiment is powered from a lithium battery, with a supply voltage between 2.8 and 4.2V. See fig. 17. The transformer primary center tap voltage is derived from boost converter 212, where the current is switched using an N-channel MOSFET. Buffer amplifiers may be used to increase the gate drive voltage and/or current. In a preferred embodiment, the duty cycle of each transformer FET is 50% operating in a balanced configuration. Boost converter 212 operates at twice the frequency of the transformer drive and is driven by controller 204. Any ripple on the transformer center tap will be the same instantaneous value for either side being switched.

An alternative embodiment connects the transformer primary balance drivers in a cross-connect feedback manner so that the drivers automatically operate at the transformer resonant frequency. However, this requires additional electronic components to allow for quick shut down, synchronization with the boost converter, and synchronization with the controller. In a typical embodiment, an interrupt signal to the controller will be generated by both branches of the transformer primary.

In a preferred embodiment, the controller determines the transformer resonant frequency as follows. In the auto-tuning mode, the controller reduces the transformer drive duty cycle to a small value to protect the electronics. In the case of a step-up transformer having a secondary winding with more turns than its primary winding, the output voltage increases. For a given drive frequency, the controller measures the plasma drive voltage on the transformer secondary. If the voltage phase on the primary of the transformer leads the drive signal, the frequency is too high. The controller performs a frequency sweep to find the highest resonance peak. An alternative approach is to compare the waveform on one leg of the transformer primary with the corresponding gate drive waveform and adjust the drive frequency in a binary search to determine the frequency for zero crossing switching. This will occur at the transformer resonant frequency.

The drive power into the array 100 is determined by the measurement of the voltage and current on the transformer secondary. The plasma initiation voltage is affected by humidity and gas pressure, so accurate voltage measurements are desirable. In a preferred embodiment, the transformer secondary current is sensed across a low value resistor.

An alternative method of measuring plasma power in an array is to measure reflected ("reverse") power at higher harmonic frequencies. Since the plasma array has a high AC voltage across a relatively large capacitance, the amount of reactive power in the dielectric is very large compared to the amount of active power in the plasma. Thus, if measured at the fundamental drive frequency, it is very difficult to measure the active power dissipation in the plasma. Because the 1/V curve of the plasma is nonlinear, and the capacitance of the array is relatively flat with respect to voltage, it is much easier to measure at higher harmonics of the drive frequency. The actual measurement frequency is 10.7MHz due to the availability of inexpensive ceramic filters. This also reduces the size of the components in the resonant circuit. Precise tuning is required and therefore the inductor preferably has a non-magnetic core for tighter tolerances. This simplifies the problem of isolating the large reactive component of the array load from any power loss from dielectric heating in the array from plasma effects. A typical embodiment would use a parallel resonant element to tune the LC circuit 701 to block energy from the driver at 10.7MHz. See fig. 21. The series resonant element tuning LC circuit 702 provides a low impedance current return at 10.7MHz. The transformer 703 provides high voltage isolation and performs current to voltage conversion at 10.7MHz. The filter 714 blocks harmonics from the driver that are not blocked by the resonant circuit. The detector 715 is preferably a logarithmic detector to allow measurements to be made over a large power range. The parallel tuned LC circuit 701 is used to block the inter-winding capacitance of the high voltage transformer that can transfer harmonic energy at 10.7MHz. The series-tuned LC circuit 702 provides a low impedance at 10.7MHz, which allows current measurement through the transformer 703. The capacitor in the series-tuned LC circuit 702 will typically be rated at 1.5kV. In a typical embodiment, the transformer 703 is a double wire wound PTFE insulated wire around a ferrite rod. Since 1kV AC needs to be isolated, the windings are typically covered with an insulating varnish to prevent air discharge between the windings. A filter 714 is required to remove harmonic energy that is not blocked by the tuned circuit. The detector 715 is typically a logarithmic detector. When a means of measuring the relative level of the higher harmonic reverse power at high resolution is provided in the plasma driver, it can be used to set a constant plasma power level regardless of humidity or gas pressure.

In a separate drive, the housing 501 contains a power supply 500, a user interface 222, one or more inputs to the power supply, and one or more outputs of the array. See fig. 16. Inputs include USE port 223, HMDI port, headphone jack 224, micro USE jack, illumination jack, and touch buttons or touch screen. Outputs to the array include a headphone jack 224, a micro USE jack, a lighting jack, and a multi-pin jack. The audio sensor may be used to aid a visually impaired person. In wearable applications, vibrators may be added for discrete user feedback. In battery powered devices, the housing also contains a battery, which may be a primary or rechargeable battery. Embodiments connected by USE may not require a battery because the USE port may be used for input and battery charging.

The user interface will typically be a small LCD display 222. Bluetooth hardware may also be added to facilitate connection to the smartphone. The controller 204 is connected to a user interface 222. In a preferred embodiment, the multicolor LED will indicate the mode of operation, including battery charging. While some embodiments of the drive use preprogrammed memory so that the operating parameters cannot be changed, other embodiments are programmable. The inputs may be used to program plasma operating parameters such as operating time and power level. USE connections may also be used to set additional features, such as WiFi connections to defined SSID and network password. However, complete freedom of user control of the array 100 may not be the best solution for all embodiments.

In a preferred embodiment, the device is configured to emit plasma in a prescribed treatment regimen provided by a doctor, pharmacist or clinician much like a conventional prescription of a drug for use with other drug delivery devices. The device may also retrieve patient information. To do so, the drivers and arrays may be configured in a variety of ways. See fig. 23A-D. In general, a prescriber connects a low cost adapter board or dongle to a computing device. A software application running on the computing device performs authentication, loads recorded data, and programs the recipe. Data from the treatment is recorded on an adapter board or dongle for uploading to the computing device after the treatment. This data can be used to determine the efficacy of the treatment and verify whether the prescription is applicable. For better control and to facilitate a controlled business model, the prescriber may be limited to downloading the prescription from a central database, rather than directly entering the prescription.

In one embodiment, mobile computing device 610 is connected to adapter board 225, adapter board 225 in turn being connected to dongle 220, dongle 220 being connected to the array by cable 202. See fig. 23A. The adapter board 225 functions as a doctor's prescription pad containing an authentication code for each doctor, clinician, pharmacist or pharmacy registration. The adapter board 225 is also a gatekeeper between encryption protocols and user privacy data uploaded and downloaded from the dongle 220. The adapter board 225 has an onboard MCU to interface between the dongle 220 and proprietary software applications installed on the mobile computing device or desktop computer.

Dongle 220 includes settings for power, modulation details, and time for the desired treatment. Thus, dongle 220 can be programmed with a treatment prescription for use with a drive. Dongle 220 can include an identification feature that ensures that the driver is used with an array of appropriate size or shape for the desired treatment or patient. In a preferred embodiment, the identification feature is a chip encoded with an embedded code that acts as an authentication handshake between the array 100 and dongle 220 to ensure that a given power supply is used only with an authorized array. In another embodiment, the connectors on the array have a physical shape that mates with connectors on the power supply such that devices with only mating connectors operate to generate plasma.

To ensure that the array emits energy at the desired parameters, in a preferred embodiment, the array will only operate if its embedded identification code matches the dongle. For example, the programmed dongle 220 and its mating array may be administered to the patient along with the patient's prescription. The patient then attaches dongle 220 to a power source, whether it be a dedicated device or a mobile computing device, and supplies power to the plasma array for treatment with plasma energy. Without the required code, the array will not function properly. Thus, the drive may be sold over the counter without a prescription much like, for example

And mates with prescription dongle 220 and array as needed. Doctors and pharmacists may program dongles 220 directly with custom protocols or they may program them with generic protocols stored in a centralized prescription database. Dongle 220 can be programmed to record treatment parameters that can be evaluated after treatment to verify that the prescription was applied and to determine its efficacy. See examples below.

In another embodiment, the mobile computing device 610 is connected to an adapter board 225, which adapter board 225 in turn is connected to a cable 202, which cable 202 is connected to an array. The function of the dongle, i.e. the prescription, is embedded on the array or in the cable. Integrating dongle functionality onto array 100 is referred to herein as smart array 203. See fig. 23B. Flash memory may be used to store desired data on an array or in a cable. This may require custom cabling, but will also allow for temperature sensors on the array. This may be important for some diabetics or other patients who lose sensation and are insensitive to heat. Another alternative embodiment uses memory of a mobile or desktop computing device.

In another embodiment, the driver 500 is connected to a dongle 220, the dongle 220 being connected to the array by a cable 202. See fig. 23C. If a smart array is used, the drive may be directly connected to it using a cable. See fig. 23D.

Typically, a mobile computing device connects to the array 100 using its headset jack 224 or USB port, but may also connect with a custom interface. The mobile computing device includes a smart phone 606, a laptop computer 607, or a tablet device. In fig. 20, the dashed lines indicate that a phone or laptop may be connected to the adapter board and the array. Desktop computers may also be used to power and control the array. Mobile and desktop computing devices may be programmed with downloaded mobile applications or installed programs using on-board memory.

The plasma device of the present invention may be used to treat a variety of types of surfaces for purposes including cleaning, decontamination, disinfection and healing. For example:

example 1: decontamination of cellular telephones

Individuals carry cellular telephones wherever they go and continue to use cellular telephones after using a toilet, touching a dirty door handle, handshaking with others, sharing a telephone with others, and touching money. All of these items are filled with bacteria that can be transmitted to the individual's cell phone. Thus, cellular phones have as much as 18 times as many bacteria as public restrooms. In some embodiments, the non-thermal array 100 or the smart array 203 may be placed around or incorporated into a cellular telephone. Once the non-thermal array 100 or the smart array 203 is opened, the microorganisms on the phone will be inactivated, effectively disinfecting the cell phone from any infectious agents.

Example 2: biological warfare decontamination clothing

In war, biological weapons may be used to combat soldiers. In certain embodiments, the biowarfare garment may be lined with a non-thermal plasma array 100 or a smart array 203. When a soldier is contaminated with a biological weapon, the soldier may wear a garment that is not a thermal plasma liner. Once the garment is donned, the array 100 is opened and the soldier can be decontaminated. The garment is reusable.

Example 3: killing fungi or bacteria with non-thermal plasma devices

The voltage supplied to the plasma array may be modulated (pulsed or keyed on and off) at a rate of about 1Hz to about 10 kHz. The specific modulation frequency (so-called life frequency) has a therapeutic effect, wherein the specific frequency is related to killing specific microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi, moulds etc. These frequencies can be used by the controller to produce biological effects beyond those produced by reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species. The resulting biological effect created by the non-thermal plasma array over a large surface area can eliminate microorganisms on any surface type.

Example 4: method for creating ozone

Ozone is an unstable but very beneficial molecule and is created by a plasma. The plasma is a mixture of neutral particles and charged particles. When a voltage is applied to the array 100 of plasma emitters 107 in an oxygen containing gas, the plasma emitters generate electron transfer, which generates ozone. Ozone can be applied to the human body for therapeutic effects, to water to oxidize pathogens and synthetic residues in the body, and to olive oil for ingestion, which gives individuals a stable internal application of ozone. In addition, ozone can be used as an air disinfectant, killing pathogens, infectious microorganisms, and neutralizing many biological problems like bacteria, viruses, mold, and chemical outgassing.

Example 5: cosmetic treatment

Nitric oxide is a free radical that has been shown to be beneficial in treating photodamaged facial skin by burning old damaged skin cells so that they can shed and be replaced with new healthy skin cells. An array of plasma emitters in a gas containing nitrogen is placed over a desired treatment area of the skin, and the plasma emitters generate nitric oxide across the entire treatment area. In this treatment, the present apparatus is used much faster than conventional methods of treating a treatment region with a plasma plume that repeatedly passes or scans across the region.

EXAMPLE 6 treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

In one example, a power source is used in combination with an array to treat a patient with pseudomonas aeruginosa (a multi-drug resistant pathogen) on her foot. The doctor prescribes a 241Hz plasma treatment for 10 minutes twice a day for seven days. The pharmacist receives the prescription for each treatment from the physician, connects the adapter board 225 to the desktop computer, and programs the dongle 220 directly with the authentication code and instructions to operate the plasma emitter array at 241Hz for 10 minutes. The patient obtains a programmed dongle and mating array, or smart array 203, from the pharmacist and attaches it to a power source, such as a cellular phone charger. The patient places the array on her foot where it is infected. The power supply confirms that it has been attached to the authorized array and initiates treatment. The patient holds the array in place for a treatment duration of 10 minutes in accordance with the programmed protocol. When 10 minutes passed, the patient removed the array from her foot. The patient was repeatedly treated twice daily for more than six days. The dongle and array or smart array can be returned to the pharmacist for uploading the usage data of the past treatments and reprogramming it with a new protocol for reuse.

EXAMPLE 7 treatment of Candida albicans

In another example, a power source is used in combination with an array to treat a patient with candida albicans, a typical oral or genital fungal infection. The doctor prescribes a plasma treatment of 482Hz for 10 minutes, applied twice daily for seven days. The pharmacist receives the prescription, connects the adapter board 225 to the desktop computer, and directly programs the dongle 220 with the authentication code and instructions, operating the plasma emitter array at 482Hz for 10 minutes. The patient obtains the programmed dongle, cable and attached plasma array from the pharmacist and attaches it to the driver. The drive is portable and rechargeable using a USB wall charger. The drive confirms that it has been attached to the authorized array and initiates the treatment. The patient left the array in place for a treatment duration of 10 minutes. When 10 minutes passed, the patient removed the array from her mouth. The patient repeats the treatment once a day for more than six days. The dongle and array or smart array can be returned to the pharmacist for uploading the usage data of the past treatments and reprogramming it with a new protocol for reuse.

EXAMPLE 8 treatment of Trichophyton rubrum

In another example, a power source is used in combination with an array to treat a patient with trichophyton rubrum, a fungus that is the most common cause of tinea pedis, toenail fungal infection, tinea cruris, and tinea. Treatment 775Hz lasted 10 minutes was three times daily until symptoms disappeared. The patient purchases over-the-counter power supplies, dongles, and arrays that are customized to provide a limited number of treatments. For example, for toenail fungi, the patient purchased a device that could provide 10 minutes of plasma treatment up to 20 times at 775 Hz. The patient applies the plasma array to his infected toenail daily for 10 minutes until symptoms disappear.

EXAMPLE 9 treatment of Trichophyton mentagrophytes

In another example, the inserted cable is used in combination with an array to treat trichophyton mentagrophytes, another cause of various human skin infections and also skin infections in mice. The dongle is programmed using a desktop computer connected to an adapter board having access to the internet. The authorized user downloads the protocol from the treatment database to the dongle and then causes the power supply to provide plasma treatment for a given time, frequency and duration (such as 775Hz, up to 10 minutes per treatment, three times per day for 4 weeks). The dongle and array or smart array can be returned to the pharmacist for uploading the usage data of the past treatments and reprogramming it with a new protocol for reuse.

While there has been illustrated and described what are presently considered to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the true scope of the present invention. The embodiments of the invention described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Rather, the embodiments were chosen to enable one skilled in the art to practice the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Example 10-killing of surface microorganisms with non-thermal plasma device

Surfaces with which humans are often exposed (including porous and non-porous surfaces) can often be severely contaminated with infectious and/or toxic agents; indeed, transmissible diseases caused by agents that can survive on a surface are most often transmitted from person to person via contact with contaminated surfaces. It is particularly critical that surfaces such as floors, countertops and exterior surfaces of appliances remain free of contamination in medical environments, but in other environments the surfaces may also be susceptible to contamination. Examples include the surface of a cellular telephone (e.g., example 1 above), and contaminated clothing and other items of soldiers in war exposed to biological weapons (e.g., example 2 above). Surfaces such as these may be decontaminated using plasma equipment. The voltage supplied to the plasma array may be modulated (pulsed or keyed on and off) at a rate of about 1Hz to about 10 kHz. The particular modulation frequency has a therapeutic effect in that energy applied to the subject at one or more selected modulation frequencies is associated with killing, inactivating, severely damaging, inhibiting, disrupting, or killing particular microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses (e.g., influenza; coronaviruses), fungi, mold, parasites, and other forms of infectious or toxic agents. For example, modulation at 1550Hz has been shown to inactivate more than 40 types of airborne and surface-transmitted viruses, including influenza and all coronaviruses. The controller may adjust the power to the array at these frequencies to produce plasma, reactive oxygen species, reactive nitrogen species, ozone, hydrogen peroxide, and/or light in the visible and/or UVA spectrum (i.e., 315-420nm wavelength). Ozone is an unstable but very beneficial molecule and is created by a plasma. The plasma is a mixture of neutral particles and charged particles. When a voltage is applied to the array 100 of plasma emitters 107 in an oxygen containing gas, the plasma emitters generate electron transfer, which generates ozone. Ozone can be applied to the human body for therapeutic effects, to water to oxidize pathogens and synthetic residues in the body, and to olive oil for ingestion that imparts a stable internal application of ozone to the individual. In addition, ozone can be used as an air disinfectant, killing pathogens, infectious microorganisms, and neutralizing many biological problems like bacteria, viruses, mold, and chemical outgassing.

During operation, the array remains in close proximity to the contaminated surface to initiate biological effects in the contaminant. The resulting biological effect created by the non-thermal plasma array over a large surface area can eliminate microorganisms on any surface type (porous or non-porous), examples of which include without limitation: floors and flooring materials; a table top; a wash basin; fabrics (such as carpets and bedding; stitching); metal tools, furniture, doors and structural supports; rigid or flexible plastics that are both permeable and impermeable; and organic surfaces such as wood, leather, hair, and living skin and other living tissue.

In another example of decontamination, the power to the array is modulated at 1550Hz to produce plasma, ozone, hydrogen peroxide and UVA spectrum (315-420 nm) light at low temperatures. In particular, the temperature is low enough so as not to decompose woven cotton, filter media, clear plastic, and other materials including facial breathing and/or vision protecting equipment such as respirators, face masks (e.g., N95 surgical masks), face shields, and goggles. The protective device may be decontaminated by exposing the protective device to the operational array for as little as three minutes and no longer than ten minutes. In one example, a handheld array such as described above is activated and held in proximity to a protective device for ten minutes; alternatively, the array may be placed on a table or other surface and the protective device placed on the array. In another example, one or more arrays, each attached to one or more power sources, are mounted or otherwise placed in a sealable container of a desired volume. The size of the container is selected to accommodate the desired number of protective devices, and the size and number of the arrays are selected such that when operated cooperatively, the arrays generate a substantially evenly distributed plasma. A desired number of contaminated protection devices may be placed in the container and the container optionally sealed, and the array may be activated and conditioned at 1550Hz for up to ten minutes to sterilize the protection devices. The protective device can then be reused and is not adversely affected by the treatment.

Example 11: treatment for preventing infection

As described in example 1, modulating the power to the array at 1550Hz produced a plasma beneficial for human treatment and also produced ozone and other components at harmless levels to humans. Thus, plasma devices may be used to apply a therapeutic regimen to kill or inactivate infectious agents present on the skin of a human or even within the nose, sinus cavity or throat of a human. As a precautionary measure for anyone, and in particular for people who have been exposed to infectious agents such as novel coronaviruses, the array is activated and modulated at 1550Hz and remains in contact or nearly in contact with the skin in the sinus cavity, nose, mouth and/or throat. The duration of 10-30 minutes per day of application is neutralized before any infectious agent can infect the subject; for example, a novel coronavirus present in the nose or sinus cavity is destroyed before it migrates to the lungs of the subject.

Example 12: treatment of COVID-19

Infection with the novel coronavirus causes a covd-19 disease, the symptoms of which are severe and can lead to respiratory failure and death. In another application of the plasma device for treating a patient with covd-19, the array is activated and modulated at 1550Hz and remains in contact or nearly in contact with the sinus cavity, throat, sternum and skin on the lower left and right anterior and/or posterior chest (i.e., over the lungs). Application for a duration of at least 10-30 minutes per day (but optionally multiple times per day) may provide sustained relief of the symptoms of covd-19, reduced or shortened inflammatory cycles, and inactivation of some or all of the virus.

Example 13: treatment of malaria

Infection with the parasite plasmodium causes malaria, the symptoms of which are severe and recur multiple times as the parasite survives and breeds in the liver. In another application of the plasma device for treating a patient with covd-19, the array is activated and modulated at 1550Hz and remains in contact or nearly in contact with the skin on the anterior lower abdomen and/or posterior abdomen (i.e., above the liver). Application for a duration of at least 10-30 minutes per day (but optionally multiple times per day) may continue to alleviate malaria symptoms and inactivate some or all pathogens.

Example 14 pain management

In another example, a plasma device comprising a plasma emitter array electrically connected to an array driver/controller and a power supply, as described above, may be further used in combination with locally applied cannabinoids or cannabinoid compounds to treat a person suffering from pain. Topically applied cannabinoids treat pain by percutaneous access to tissues and engagement with endogenous receptors; other pain-relieving modalities of cannabinoids exist and are used in the present example treatments. There are a number of synergy between non-thermal plasma treatment and topical cannabinoid treatment. One synergistic effect is that the plasma increases the rate and efficiency of percutaneous passage of cannabinoids. Another synergistic effect is that cannabinoids enhance the characteristic healing modality of the plasma.

An exemplary treatment regimen begins with a person applying a topical cannabinoid carrier (e.g., ointment, cream, oil, wax, salve, balsam, tincture) to skin adjacent to the affected painful tissue. The carrier comprises one or more active cannabinoids (e.g., 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC), 9-THC propyl analog (THC-V), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabidiol propyl analog (CBD-V), cannabinol (CBN), cannabidiol (CBC), cannabidiol allyl analog (CBC-V), cannabidiol (CBG), terpenoids, and flavonoids. The active cannabinoids may be natural or synthetic; the natural cannabinoids may be obtained from any plant in the genus cannabis or any other naturally occurring or transgenic plant that produces them. In some embodiments, the carrier may comprise a broad spectrum cannabinoid, terpene, or the like, obtained by reducing the entire source device into the carrier. The patient applies an amount of the carrier comprising the desired dose of local cannabinoid, according to standard usage of the particular carrier and according to the patient's tolerance. Exemplary dosages are approximately equal to typical oral dosages of active cannabinoids (e.g., 10-30mg CBD).

After application of the topical cannabinoid carrier, a non-thermal plasma from a plasma device is applied to the skin being treated. The array may be covered by an insulating sheath as described above and placed directly on or directly over the affected skin. The power supply is then activated to cause the array to generate a plasma. The controller may include an interface for selecting a desired plasma frequency and/or duration, or these protocols may be preprogrammed into the controller. A plasma is generated and applied for a suitable duration to drive cannabinoids transdermally to the pain receptors; example treatment plasma was applied at a plasma frequency of 2720Hz for 20 to 40 minutes, although other plasma frequencies in the range of about 100Hz to about 10000Hz were also shown to be effective. Treatment may be applied at least one day between successive treatments to avoid skin irritation. The person continues treatment as needed to manage the symptoms of acute or chronic pain. The combined treatment of pain by non-thermal plasma and topical cannabinoids provides a synergistic pain relief treatment that is superior to either modality alone.

Example 15-reduction of insomnia

In another example, as described above, a plasma device including a plasma emitter array electrically connected to an array driver/controller and a power supply may be used to alleviate or eliminate insomnia in a person. The treatment is applied at or near bedtime to the patient. The array may be covered by an insulating sheath as described above and placed directly on or directly over the forehead of a person. The power supply is then activated to cause the array to generate a plasma. The controller may include an interface for selecting a desired plasma frequency and/or duration, or these protocols may be preprogrammed into the controller. Suitable plasma frequencies include 880Hz, 1550Hz, 2720Hz and 2728Hz, and their harmonics and sub-harmonics, although other plasma frequencies in the range of about 100Hz to about 10000Hz have been shown to be effective. The plasma is generated and applied for 20 to 40 minutes and may be divided into shorter treatments (e.g., in 10 minute increments) that are either continuously applied or separated by pauses of sufficient duration to restore the comfort level of the person.

Topically applied percutaneous cannabinoids or cannabinoid compounds may be used to improve the effectiveness of insomnia treatment. Studies with certain psychoactive and non-psychoactive cannabinoids indicate that cannabinoids have good effects on sleep and somnolence, including sedative effects and pain relief (see above), inflammation and anxiety. There are a number of synergy between non-thermal plasma treatment and topical cannabinoid treatment. One synergistic effect is that the plasma increases the rate and efficiency of percutaneous passage of cannabinoids. Another synergistic effect is that cannabinoids enhance the characteristic healing modality of the plasma.

Prior to the application of the plasma treatment described above, the person applies a topical cannabinoid carrier (e.g., ointment, cream, oil, wax, salve, balm, tincture) to the forehead skin. The carrier comprises one or more active cannabinoids (e.g., delta-9-THC, THC-V, CBD, CBD-V, CBN, CBC, CBC-V, CBG, terpenoids, and flavonoids). The active cannabinoids may be natural or synthetic; the natural cannabinoids may be obtained from any plant in the genus cannabis or any other naturally occurring or transgenic plant that produces them. In some embodiments, the carrier may comprise a broad spectrum cannabinoid, terpene, or the like, obtained by reducing the entire source device into the carrier. The patient applies an amount of the carrier comprising the desired dose of local cannabinoid, according to standard usage of the particular carrier and according to the patient's tolerance. Exemplary dosages are approximately equal to typical oral dosages of active cannabinoids (e.g., 10-30mg CBD).

Claims

1. A method of operating a non-thermal plasma generation device, the method comprising:

determining, by a controller of the device, a frequency associated with a selection of a user of the device;

causing, by a controller, a power supply of the apparatus to supply electrical energy to a plasma emitter array of the apparatus;

Modulating, by a controller, electrical energy supplied to the array of plasma emitters at a frequency to cause the array of plasma emitters to electrically ionize air in the vicinity of the array and thereby generate a non-thermal plasma having characteristics associated with the frequency; and

the array is positioned adjacent the surface such that the plasma emitter emits a non-thermal plasma onto the surface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the frequency is associated with killing a form of virus, and wherein positioning the array near the surface comprises determining a location where the non-thermal plasma will interact with contaminants of the virus.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the frequency is approximately 1550Hz.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the virus is a novel coronavirus associated with covd-19.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the surface comprises a surface of a protective device, and wherein treating the surface by applying a non-thermal plasma to the surface comprises:

the surface is treated by applying a non-thermal plasma to the surface for a duration of between about 3 minutes and about 10 minutes.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the array of plasma emitters is a large array of a plurality of smaller arrays, the method further comprising:

controlling, by a controller, a first array of the plurality of smaller arrays to generate a non-thermal plasma; and

a second array of the smaller arrays is controlled by the controller and independently of the control of the first array to generate a non-thermal plasma.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the power supply is controlled by the controller to apply power to only selected ones of the plasma emitters of the array of plasma emitters.

8. A method, comprising:

electrically ionizing air with a plasma emitter array of a non-thermal plasma device to produce a non-thermal plasma;

controlling a power supply of the non-thermal plasma generating device with a controller of the non-thermal plasma generating device to apply an alternating current to a plasma emitter array of the non-thermal plasma generating device;

modulating, with a controller, the alternating current at a modulation frequency to cause the plasma emitter to generate a first nonthermal plasma having characteristics associated with the modulation frequency; and

a first non-thermal plasma is applied to the surface to kill or inactivate microorganisms.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein modulating the alternating current comprises controlling the power supply to supply electrical energy to the plasma emitter array at a rate related to killing a novel coronavirus in a form associated with covd-19.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the rate is about 1550Hz and applying the first non-thermal plasma comprises applying the first non-thermal plasma to the surface through the plasma emitter array for a duration in a range of about 10 minutes to about 30 minutes.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

measuring, by the controller, electrical energy within the non-thermal plasma device while the power supply is applying alternating current; and

the power supply is controlled by a controller based on the measured electrical energy to set a constant plasma power level.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

detecting, by a controller, a change in one or both of a current and a voltage on a primary winding of a transformer coupled between a power supply and the plasma emitter array; and

the power supply is controlled by the controller in response to the change to limit the application of alternating current to the array of plasma emitters.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining, by the controller, in response to an input to the controller, that the input identifies the modulation frequency from within a selectable modulation frequency range.

14. A method, comprising:

applying electrical energy to the array of plasma emitters by a power supply;

ionizing air by a plasma emitter array to produce a non-thermal plasma;

controlling, by a controller, application of an alternating current of electrical energy to at least a first plasma emitter in an array of plasma emitters at a modulation frequency to cause the first plasma emitter to generate a first nonthermal plasma having characteristics associated with the modulation frequency; and

a first non-thermal plasma is applied with the plasma emitter array to kill one or more microorganisms.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein controlling the application of the alternating current comprises causing the power source to modulate alternating current electrical energy supplied to the plasma emitter array at a modulation frequency, wherein the modulation frequency is between about 1Hz and about 10kHz and is associated with killing the one or more microorganisms.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising applying the non-thermal plasma to the patient with the plasma emitter array for a duration to kill the one or more microorganisms, thereby treating the infection of the patient.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the modulation frequency is about 1550Hz, and wherein the duration is in a range of about 10 minutes to about 30 minutes.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising filtering the electrical energy applied to the plasma emitter array to selectively block one or more harmonic frequencies of the electrical energy and selectively pass one or more fundamental frequencies of the electrical energy.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

determining, by the controller, an initiation voltage of the non-thermal plasma based on the one or more harmonic frequencies of the electrical energy;

controlling the power supply by the controller to apply alternating current at the initiation voltage;

detecting, by the controller, a change in the initiation voltage; and

the power supply is controlled by the controller to generate the non-thermal plasma at a constant plasma power level in response to the change.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining, by the controller, that the input received by the controller identifies the modulation frequency from within an operating frequency range between about 1Hz and about 10 KHz.