Portable apparatus and method for treating a workpiece

A method for treating a surface of a workpiece at atmospheric pressure using plasma, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing an apparatus, said apparatus comprising at least one powerable electrode, said powerable electrode being connectable to a power supply and powerable thereby,
• at least one groundable electrode connectable to a ground,
• a dielectric separating said at least one powerable electrode and said at least one groundable electrode, whereby said at least one powerable elctrode and at least one groundable electrode define a plurality of electrode pairs,
• a first plurality of said powerable electrodes and/or said groundable electrodes being disposed in a second plurality of flow channels, whereby a plasma gas can flow through said flow channels and thereby produce a plasma upon interaction with a powerable electrode when said powerable electrode is powered, said plasma being capable of interacting with a working gas to thereby produce excited species, and
• a third plurality of outlets from said flow channels, said third plurality being juxtaposable with a workpiece whereby the excited species may intercept the surface of the workpiece;
• supplying power to at least one said powerable electrode,
• supplying a plasma gas to said plurality of flow channels;
• generating a plasma from said plasma gas,
• supplying a working gas in juxtaposed relationship with said plasma gas, whereby said plasma interacts with said working gas to generate excited species, said excited species being suitable to treat a workpiece,
• juxtaposing said plurality of outlets from said chamber with a workpiece, and
• applying a treatment of said active species to a surface of the workpiece in a straight and unobstructed flow path from said plasma to said surface of said workpiece.