KR20210068922A - Low temperature atmospheric plasma generator for promoting prosthetic bonding - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a low-temperature atmospheric plasma generating device for prosthetic bonding promotion, which applies argon gas as plasma generating gas, applies oxygen gas as reactive gas, and can adjust a plasma driving voltage and a driving frequency in accordance with a use condition to vary the length of the plasma jet. According to the present invention, plasma properties (wettability, adhesion, bonding, biocompatibility, surface reinforcement, surface heat resistance modification, sterilization, removal of harmful proteins and bacteria, etc.) which are already verified in an industrial field are applied. Accordingly, surface treatment and bonding strength of a dental prosthesis, such as medical resin, which is mostly used among dental prosthesis manufacturing materials.

Description

Low temperature atmospheric plasma generator for promoting prosthetic bonding

The present invention relates to a low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma generator for facilitating bonding of a prosthesis. Argon gas is applied as a plasma generating gas, oxygen gas is applied as a reactive gas, and a plasma driving voltage and driving frequency to vary the length of a plasma jet. It relates to a low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma generator for promoting prosthetic bonding, which can be adjusted according to the conditions of use.

Plasma is an aggregate of particles that are separated into electrons and ions as energy is applied to the gas and coexist as electrons and ions in space. can

The technology using the maximized reactivity of this plasma has the sterilization or deodorization function of active species generated by plasma generation in the biomedical field, such as chronic wound or skin disease treatment, tissue engineering, tumor treatment, dental treatment, etc. Its utility value is emerging in various fields such as used air quality control or sterilization/disinfection of polluting substances, and industrial fields for the improvement of synthesis or processing methods of new substances.

Commercially or industrially, atmospheric pressure low-temperature plasma generated by barrier discharge, plasma jet, or corona discharge method has been studied and applied a lot, and in particular, in the field of biomedical or sterilization/disinfection directly related to human life, Plasma jet technology that generates plasma by applying a high voltage to the needle electrode structure while injecting an inert gas, or as disclosed in Korean Patent No. 10-1407672, plasma by interposing a dielectric between two electrodes of a parallel plate that applies a high voltage Atmospheric pressure low-temperature plasma generators using dielectric barrier discharge that generate

However, in the plasma generator according to the prior art, a structure for gas injection and a structure for plasma generation are complicatedly configured, or a plasma treatment region is treated in consideration of the annihilation of plasma by recombination of generated electrons and ions. It is a structure that is close to the object, and there is a limit to its practical use for various purposes.

On the other hand, methods for treating the surface of the substrate include, for example, removal of contaminants such as organic substances from the surface of the substrate, removal of resist, adhesion of organic film, surface modification, improvement of film formation, reduction of metal oxide, Alternatively, cleaning of the glass substrate for liquid crystal is largely divided into a method using a chemical agent and a method using a plasma. Among them, the method using chemicals has a disadvantage that chemicals adversely affect the environment.

An example of the surface treatment using plasma may be a method using plasma in a low temperature and low pressure state. A surface treatment method using low-temperature and low-pressure plasma is to generate plasma in a low-temperature and low-pressure vacuum chamber and contact them with the surface of the substrate to treat the surface of the substrate.

The surface treatment method using such low-temperature and low-pressure plasma is a situation that is not widely used despite its excellent effect, which requires a vacuum device to maintain a low pressure, and thus is applied to a continuous process performed at atmospheric pressure. because it is difficult to do. Accordingly, recently, studies to generate plasma under atmospheric pressure and use it for surface treatment have been actively conducted.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2011-0123750 Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2012-0005870 Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2012-0005862

The present invention is to solve the conventional problems as described above, by applying argon gas as a plasma generating gas, oxygen gas as a reactive gas, and a plasma driving voltage, a driving frequency, and a plasma driving voltage to vary the length of the plasma jet. An object of the present invention is to provide a low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma generator for facilitating bonding of a prosthesis, in which a gas flow rate can be adjusted according to usage conditions.

In addition, the present invention can rapidly and accurately treat the surface of the object to be treated under low-temperature atmospheric pressure, and promote bonding of the object to be treated or a prosthesis capable of generating a large amount of plasma at a set position by imparting straightness to the ejection of plasma. An object of the present invention is to provide a low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma generator for

In addition, the present invention applies the properties of plasma that have already been verified in the industrial field to improve the bonding strength of medical resin, which is the most used among the materials for manufacturing dental prostheses, and improve the problems of the existing process, so that the surface treatment of the dental prosthesis is efficient and economical. and to provide a low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma generator for promoting bonding of a prosthesis for bonding.

In accordance with the present invention for achieving the above object, there is provided a low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma generator for facilitating bonding of a prosthesis, comprising: a plasma jet unit for generating plasma by receiving at least one or more gases and power; a gas supply unit for mixing at least one gas and supplying it to the plasma jet unit; a power supply unit for supplying power to the plasma jet unit; and a controller for controlling the power applied to the plasma jet unit and the operation of the gas supply unit, wherein the plasma jet unit has a hollow portion formed therein along the longitudinal direction to allow the gas supplied from the gas supply unit to pass therethrough, A quartz tube formed of quartz, a first electrode part inserted for a predetermined length from one end of the quartz tube toward the other end of the quartz tube through a hollow part, and to which power is applied through the power supply, the first electrode; A second electrode part installed in a ring shape along the circumferential direction of the quartz tube so as to surround the outer circumferential surface of the quartz tube on the other side of the quartz tube spaced apart from the end of the part by a predetermined distance and receiving power through the power supply part. characterized in that

The gas supply unit includes a first gas storage unit storing a first gas, a first regulator adjusting the pressure of the first gas supplied from the first gas storage unit, and a flow rate of the first gas passing through the first regulator. A first flow controller for controlling the flow rate, a second gas storage unit storing a second gas, a second regulator adjusting the pressure of the second gas supplied from the second gas storage unit, and the second regulator passing through A second flow controller for controlling the flow rate of the second gas, and a gas mixing unit for mixing the first gas and the second gas that have passed through the first flow controller and the second flow controller, respectively, and supplying the mixture to the plasma jet unit and a flow meter for measuring the flow rate of the mixed gas supplied from the gas mixer to the plasma jet unit.

The controller includes a first voltage regulator that converts the voltage output from the SMPS of the power supply unit into a set first voltage value and outputs a first voltage regulator that converts the voltage output from the SMPS of the power supply unit into a set second voltage value 2 voltage regulator, a plasma driving part receiving power output from the first voltage regulator and applying power to the first electrode part and the second electrode part of the plasma jet unit, and the voltage value output from the second voltage regulator and a microprocessor for controlling the first voltage regulator, controlling the plasma driving unit, displaying the flow rate of the mixed gas measured by the flow meter on a display, and controlling the first flow rate controller and the second flow rate controller do it with

It characterized in that it further comprises an ozone removal unit for removing ozone generated around the plasma by the plasma generated from the plasma jet unit.

The ozone removal unit includes a duct part having a flow path formed along the inside, and a suction installed in the duct part so that ozone generated together with plasma from the end of the plasma jet unit can be sucked into the duct part and discharged to the outside. a fan, a heating unit installed inside the duct unit to reduce ozone by heating the air flowing along the flow path of the duct unit; and a heating unit installed inside the duct unit to allow air flowing along the flow path of the duct unit to pass through and an ozone removal unit provided with a manganese dioxide catalyst for decomposition and removal by reducing ozone contained in air.

The low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma generator for promoting the bonding of prostheses according to the present invention can be extended and applied to the medical industry related to strengthening the adhesiveness of medical resins used in dentistry or laboratories in addition to surface activation, cleaning, and surface modification, and expensive vacuum equipment The advantage of being able to change the length of the jet according to the shape of the production process or the application part by changing the plasma driving voltage and driving frequency is possible in a short time without the need for a surface treatment system without secondary contaminants at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. There is this.

In addition, the low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma generator for promoting the bonding of prostheses according to the present invention provides plasma properties (wettability, adhesion, bondability, biocompatibility, surface reinforcement, modification of surface heat resistance, sterilization, and harmfulness) that have already been verified in the industrial field. Protein and bacteria removal, etc.) has the advantage of improving the surface treatment and bonding strength of dental prostheses such as medical resin, which is the most used material for making dental prostheses.

1 is a schematic view showing a low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma generator for promoting the bonding of a prosthesis according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the control system of the low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma generator for promoting the bonding of the prosthesis according to the present invention.
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a plasma jet unit of the low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma generator for promoting the bonding of the prosthesis according to the present invention.
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the ozone removal unit of the low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma generator for promoting the bonding of the prosthesis according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, a low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma generating apparatus for facilitating bonding of a prosthesis according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 to 4 show a low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma generator for facilitating bonding of a prosthesis according to the present invention. 1 to 4, the low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma generating apparatus for promoting bonding of the prosthesis according to the present invention includes a plasma jet unit 100, a gas supply unit 200, a power supply unit 300, and a controller 400. and an ozone removal unit 500 .

The plasma jet unit 100 generates plasma by receiving at least one or more gases and power, and includes a housing 101 , a quartz tube 102 , a first electrode part 103 , and a second electrode part 104 . ) is included.

The housing 101 has a mounting space formed therein, an outlet for emitting a plasma jet is formed on the lower side, and an inlet and a first electrode unit through which the gas supplied from the gas supply unit 200 is introduced at the upper end ( 103) and the second electrode unit 104 are provided with lead-in portions through which electric wires for applying power are introduced, respectively.

The quartz tube 102 is inserted and mounted in the mounting space inside the housing 101 , and a hollow portion is formed inside along the longitudinal direction so that the gas supplied from the gas supply unit 200 can pass therethrough, and is formed of quartz.

The first electrode unit 103 is a discharge electrode, which is inserted from one end of the quartz tube 102 toward the other end of the quartz tube 102 through a hollow portion at a certain length, and is inserted in the power supply unit 300 through an electric wire. The applied power is supplied. It is preferable that the first electrode part 103 applies an HV Elecrode (High Voltage Elecrode) that can be used for high voltage. In addition, the end of the first electrode part 103 that enters the quartz tube 102 is sharply formed for stable plasma generation.

The second electrode part 104 is an induction electrode, and the quartz tube 102 surrounds the outer circumferential surface of the quartz tube 102 on the other side of the quartz tube 102 spaced apart from the end of the first electrode part 103 by a predetermined distance. It is installed in a ring shape along the circumferential direction of , and receives power applied from the power supply unit 300 through an electric wire.

The plasma jet unit 100 emits the gas supplied from the gas supply unit 200 and the high-frequency power supplied to the first electrode unit 103 and the second electrode unit 104, which is provided on the end side of the housing 101. Guro generates a plasma jet, and the length of the plasma jet can be adjusted by controlling the power supply 300 and the gas supply amount.

The gas supply unit 200 mixes at least one gas and supplies it to the plasma jet unit 100 , and a first gas storage unit 211 in which the first gas is stored, and the first gas storage unit 211 supplied from the first gas storage unit 211 . The first regulator 212 for adjusting the pressure of the first gas, the first flow controller 213 for adjusting the flow rate of the first gas passing through the first regulator 212, and the second gas stored in the second gas The storage unit 221 , the second regulator 222 regulating the pressure of the second gas supplied from the second gas storage unit 221 , and controlling the flow rate of the second gas passing through the second regulator 222 . The gas supplied to the plasma jet unit 100 by mixing the first gas and the second gas that have passed through the second flow controller 223 and the first flow controller 213 and the second flow controller 223 , respectively. It includes a mixing unit 230 and a flow meter 240 for measuring a flow rate of the mixed gas supplied from the gas mixer to the plasma jet unit 100 .

Oxygen gas is stored in the first gas storage unit 211 of the gas supply unit 200 , and argon gas is stored in the second gas storage unit 221 .

The first flow controller 213 varies the flow rate of the oxygen gas supplied to the gas mixing unit 230, and the second flow controller 223 varies the flow rate of the argon gas supplied to the gas mixing unit 230, The first flow controller 213 and the second flow controller 223 are each controlled by a microprocessor 415 of the controller 400 to be described later.

A first check valve for preventing a reverse flow of the first gas is installed in the first gas supply pipe between the first regulator 212 and the first flow controller 213, and the second regulator 222 and the second flow controller ( 223), a second check valve for preventing the backflow of the second gas is installed in the second gas supply pipe.

In addition, a shut-off valve capable of opening and closing the flow path of the mixed gas supply pipe is installed in the mixed gas supply pipe between the gas mixing unit 230 and the flow meter 240 .

The operation of the first check valve and the second check valve and the shut-off valve described above is controlled by the controller 400 to be described later.

The power supply unit 300 is for supplying power to the plasma jet unit 100 , and supplies power for generating a plasma bar to the plasma driving unit 413 .

The controller 400 controls the plasma driving unit 413 that drives the plasma jet unit 100 to generate plasma and controls the operation of the gas supply unit 200 .

The controller 400 converts the voltage output from the SMPS of the power supply unit 300 into a set first voltage value and outputs the first voltage regulator 411, and sets the voltage output from the SMPS of the power supply unit 300. A second voltage regulator 412 that converts and outputs two voltage values, and a first electrode part 103 and a second electrode part of the plasma jet unit 100 receiving power output from the first voltage regulator 411 ( It includes a plasma driving unit 413 for applying power to 104 , a flow rate control unit 414 for controlling the first and second flow rate controllers, a microprocessor 415 , and an operation mode selection unit 416 .

The microprocessor 415 controls the first voltage regulator 411 according to the voltage value output from the second voltage regulator 412 , controls the plasma driver 413 , and controls the mixed gas measured by the flow meter 240 . The mixed gas supplied to the plasma jet unit 100 by displaying the flow rate on the display 500 and controlling the first flow rate controller 213 and the second flow rate controller 223 based on the flow rate information measured by the flow meter 240 . flow rate can be varied.

The ozone removal unit 500 removes ozone generated around the plasma jet by the plasma jet generated from the plasma jet unit 100 , and includes a duct unit 510 , a suction fan 520 , and a heating unit 530 . ) and an ozone removal unit 540 .

A flow path is formed along the inside of the duct part 510, and one side is connected to the chamber in which the plasma jet unit 100 is accommodated.

The suction fan 520 is installed in the duct part 510 to suck ozone generated together with plasma from the end of the plasma jet unit 100 into the duct part 510 and discharge it to the outside.

The heating unit 530 is installed inside the duct unit 510 to heat the air flowing along the flow path of the duct unit 510 to reduce ozone contained in the air.

The ozone removal unit 540 is installed inside the duct unit 510 to allow air flowing along the flow path of the duct unit 510 to pass therethrough, and a manganese dioxide catalyst for decomposing and removing ozone contained in the air by reducing it. is provided

The operation process of the low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma generator for promoting the bonding of the prosthesis according to the present invention as described above is as follows.

First, turn on the power switch, initialize the system, and check whether it is connected to an external communication device. Thereafter, it enters the standby state, and in this state, it is possible to set the generation time and power of the plasma jet.

When the operation switch for plasma generation is turned on, the first check valve and the second check valve are opened, and the first gas and the second gas are supplied to the gas mixer and mixed. At this time, the controller 400 monitors the flow rates of the first gas and the second gas, and when an abnormality occurs, an error is displayed on the display 500 and converted to a standby state. When the flow rate of the first gas and the second gas is not abnormal, when the start button for generating the plasma jet is pressed, the high frequency power is supplied to the first electrode part 103 and the second electrode part 104 through the plasma driving part 413 . is applied, and the microprocessor 415 of the controller 400 monitors the driving voltage of the plasma driving unit 413 , and displays an error on the display 500 when an abnormality occurs and is converted to a standby state. Plasma jet generation stops after the set time has elapsed, and you can make an emergency stop by pressing and holding the start button even during the set time.

The low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma generating apparatus for facilitating the bonding of the prosthesis according to the present invention described above has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but this is merely an example, and those of ordinary skill in the art can perform various modifications and equivalents therefrom. It will be appreciated that other embodiments are possible.

Accordingly, the scope of true technical protection of the present invention should be defined only by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

100: plasma jet unit 101: housing
102: quartz tube 103: first electrode part
104: second electrode part 200: gas supply part
211: first gas storage unit 212: first regulator
213: first flow controller 221: second gas storage unit
222: second regulator 223: second flow controller
230: gas mixing unit 240: flow meter
300: power supply 400: controller
411: first voltage regulator 412: second voltage regulator
413: plasma driving unit 414: flow control unit
415: microprocessor 500: ozone removal unit
510: duct part 520: suction fan
530: heating unit 540: ozone removal unit

Claims (5)

a plasma jet unit for generating plasma by receiving at least one or more gases and power;
a gas supply unit for mixing at least one gas and supplying it to the plasma jet unit;
a power supply unit for supplying power to the plasma jet unit;
A controller for controlling the power applied to the plasma jet unit and the operation of the gas supply unit;
The plasma jet unit includes a quartz tube having a hollow portion formed along the longitudinal direction on the inside so that the gas supplied from the gas supply unit can pass therethrough and formed of quartz, and the other side of the quartz tube through a hollow portion at one end of the quartz tube. a first electrode part inserted by a predetermined length toward the side end and to which power is applied through the power supply part, and the other side of the quartz tube spaced apart from the end of the first electrode part by a predetermined distance to surround the outer circumferential surface of the quartz tube A low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma generator for promoting bonding of a prosthesis, characterized in that it includes a second electrode part installed in a ring shape along the circumferential direction of the quartz tube and to which power is applied through the power supply part.
According to claim 1,
The gas supply unit includes a first gas storage unit storing a first gas, a first regulator adjusting the pressure of the first gas supplied from the first gas storage unit, and a flow rate of the first gas passing through the first regulator. A first flow controller for controlling the flow rate, a second gas storage unit storing a second gas, a second regulator adjusting the pressure of the second gas supplied from the second gas storage unit, and the second regulator passing through A second flow controller for adjusting the flow rate of the second gas, and a gas mixing unit for mixing the first gas and the second gas that have passed through the first flow controller and the second flow controller, respectively, and supplying the mixture to the plasma jet unit and a flow meter for measuring a flow rate of the mixed gas supplied from the gas mixer to the plasma jet unit.
3. The method of claim 2,
The controller includes a first voltage regulator that converts the voltage output from the SMPS of the power supply unit into a set first voltage value and outputs a first voltage regulator that converts the voltage output from the SMPS of the power supply unit into a set second voltage value 2 voltage regulator, a plasma driving part receiving power output from the first voltage regulator and applying power to the first electrode part and the second electrode part of the plasma jet unit, and the voltage value output from the second voltage regulator and a microprocessor for controlling the first voltage regulator, controlling the plasma driving unit, displaying the flow rate of the mixed gas measured by the flow meter on a display, and controlling the first flow rate controller and the second flow rate controller Low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma generator for promoting prosthetic bonding.
According to claim 1,
A low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma generator for promoting bonding of a prosthesis, characterized in that it further comprises an ozone removal unit for removing ozone generated around the plasma by the plasma generated from the plasma jet unit.
5. The method of claim 4,
The ozone removal unit
a duct part having a flow path formed along the inside;
a suction fan installed in the duct part to suck ozone generated together with plasma from the end of the plasma jet unit into the duct part and discharge it to the outside;
a heating unit installed inside the duct unit to heat the air flowing along the flow path of the duct unit to reduce ozone;
The prosthesis, characterized in that it is installed inside the duct part, is formed to allow air flowing along the flow path of the duct part to pass through, and includes an ozone removal part provided with a manganese dioxide catalyst for reducing and decomposing and removing ozone contained in the air. Low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma generator to promote bonding.

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