# US 2013/0156639 A1 · Plasma Powder Sterilization Apparatus and Methods

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- Number: US 2013/0156639 A1
- Document ID: US20130156639A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/711,867
- Filed: 2012-12-12
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-12
- Assignees: Applied Quantum Energy LLC
- Inventors: George Paskalov
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130156639A1

## CPC

- A61L 2/14: Plasma, i.e. ionised gases
- A23B 2/05: by heating using irradiation or electric treatment (drying or kilning A23B2/90)
- A23B 2/50: by irradiation without heating
- A23B 4/015: Preserving by irradiation or electric treatment without heating effect
- A61L 2/20: Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)
- A23B: PRESERVATION OF FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES

## Abstract

Systems and methods for plasma sterilization are described. The sterilization method includes placing a substance to be sterilized in a rotating chamber (e.g., drum) and exposing the substance to a radio frequency (RF) plasma. The mixing of the substance and plasma is further promoted by generating a magnetic field that produces a force on the substance in a direction opposite to the rotational direction of the chamber. In other aspects, the chamber may have a gas permeable wall. In addition, the substance may be exposed to acoustic shock waves produced by a modulating RF generator.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of sterilizing a substance, comprising:
placing the substance in a rotating chamber;
irradiating the substance with a RF plasma;
applying a force not caused by rotation of the rotating chamber to increase contact of the substance with the RF plasma.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the force comprises a magnetic field that causes the RF plasma to rotate in a direction opposite to that of the chamber.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the force comprises a magnetic field axially aligned with the chamber.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3 wherein a wall of the chamber is used as an electrode for producing the external field.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3 wherein an axle of the chamber is used as an electrode for producing the external field.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising applying a pre-ionizer to the RF plasma.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising using an induction plasma to pre-ionize the RF plasma.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising using gas penetration of a wall of the chamber to reduce contact of the substance with the wall.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising modulating a basic frequency of the RF plasma to impart acoustic shock waves to the substance.

### Claim 10

An apparatus for sterilizing a substance, comprising:
a rotating chamber;
a source of plasma disposed to irradiate the substance within the chamber;
an RF generator that applies a radio frequency to the plasma; and
a circuitry that produces a magnetic field that causes the RF plasma to rotate in a direction opposite to that of the chamber.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a first electrode at a wall of the chamber, and a second electrode inside the chamber.

### Claim 12

An apparatus for sterilizing a substance, comprising:
a rotating chamber;
a source of RF plasma disposed to irradiate the substance within the chamber; and
an induction plasma disposed to pre-ionize the RF plasma.

### Claim 13

An apparatus for sterilizing a substance, comprising:
a rotating chamber;
a source of RF plasma disposed to irradiate the substance within the chamber; and
wherein the chamber has a gas permeable wall.

### Claim 14

An apparatus for sterilizing a substance, comprising:
a rotating chamber;
a source of plasma disposed to irradiate the substance within the chamber;
an RF generator that applies a radio frequency to the plasma; and
a circuitry that modulates a basic frequency of the RF plasma to impart acoustic shock waves to the substance.