Method and apparatus for cold plasma treatment of internal organs
OwnerMichael Rontal, David Ruzic +2inventors
InventorsMichael Rontal, David Ruzic, Brian Jurczyk, Robert Stubbers
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Abstract
Chronic sinusitis is treated by the application of cold plasma or plasma-activated species to the infected mucosal surfaces through use of an endoscope having a steerable end which may be projected into the sinus cavities through the nasal cavity. The cold plasma is generated at either the distal end of the endoscope with a power source by application of a power, or at the distal end by gas and electrical connections extending through the endoscope. The cold plasma or plasma-activated species act to destroy bacterial cells but not eukaryotic cells.
Claims27
An endoscope for the treatment of internal body organs affected by pathogens, to reduce the pathogens, comprising:
- an elongated tube adapted to be inserted into a body so that its proximal end is external of the body and its distal end is proximate said body organ surface;
- an electrical power source;
- a source of gases;
- a cold plasma generator connected to said electrical power source and said source of gases to generate cold plasma;
- and
- at least one channel in the endoscope to carry activated species created by said plasma source to the surface to be treated.
An endoscope to be inserted into a body to apply active species to the surfaces of internal organs to reduce pathogens on said surfaces, comprising:
- an elongated cylindrical tube having a proximal end and a distal end adapted to be positioned adjacent to the organ surfaces;
- the proximal end of the tube being rigid with a relatively flexible section of the tube adjacent the distal end;
- control wires extending through the tube and terminating at the flexible section;
- a manually operable control member at the proximal end of the tube connected to the proximal ends of the wires to allow a user to control the curvature of the flexible section for manipulation of the tube within a body;
- a source of gases;
- a electrical power source;
- and
- a cold plasma generator connected to said source of gases and electrical power source and operative to pass activated species through the distal end to said organ surfaces.
The method of treating surfaces of internal organs in a human to reduce pathogens on the surface of said organs comprising:
- inserting an endoscope comprising an elongated tube having a distal end and a proximal end into a body cavity to bring the distal end into proximity to the surface of the internal organ to be treated while the proximal end is external of the body;
- connecting the proximal end of the endoscope to a source of gas and to an electrical power source;
- using the power source to excite the gas to create a cold plasma;
- and
- applying the resulting activated species to the surfaces to be treated through the endoscope tube.
An endoscope for the treatment of internal body organs having pathogens on their surfaces comprising:
- an elongated cylindrical tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being adapted to be inserted into the body in proximity to said body organs to be treated with the proximal end external of the body;
- a source of gas;
- an electrical power source;
- a power source to create a cold plasma;
- a pair of balloons supported at the distal end of the endoscope tube and arranged with an inner balloon interior of an outer balloon;
- a connection for passage of the gas through the tube to the proximal end of the tube so that the gases flow through the tube and into the interior of the interior balloon;
- the interior balloon having a metalized coating on its interior side and apertures which allow pressurized gases to pass through said apertures into the space between the balloons;
- the outer balloon having a number of apertures;
- and
- a connection from the electrical power source extending into contact with the metalized coating on the inner balloon, whereby cold plasma will be generated in the volume between the two balloons and activated species flow out of the apertures in the outer balloon into contact with the body organs to be treated.
A disposable attachment for an endoscope having a cylindrical channel with an inner diameter extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the attachment enabling the endoscope to apply plasma-activated species to the surface of internal organs to reduce pathogens on said surfaces, comprising:
- a flexible, elongated cylindrical tube having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said channel, enabling the tube to be inserted into the channel;
- a source of gases adapted to be connected to the interior of the tube to allow the passage of gases through the tube;
- a power source to create the activated species.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.