Quantum energy surgical device and method

A plasma tool adapted to emit a plurality of high quantum energy inert gas atoms in a stream, the plasma tool comprising:

• an inert gas source;
• a plasma cell in communication with said inert gas source for imparting energy to said inert gas atoms, thereby creating said high quantum energy inert gas atoms, said plasma cell defined in part by a positive electrode and a negative electrode;
• at least one power supply electrically connected to said negative and positive electrodes, said at least one power supply adapted to provide (a) initially an ionization voltage between said negative and positive electrodes to initiate a plasma from said inert gas in said plasma cell, and (b) subsequently a pulsed voltage that sustains the plasma at a predetermined energy level;
• and
• means for directing the high quantum energy inert gas atoms at a target.

A method for removing a first material of a target area of an object at a transition region in close proximity to a second material, the first material requiring a lower quantum energy for removal than the second material, the method comprising:

• (a) providing a plasma tool adapted to emit a plurality of high quantum energy inert gas atoms in a stream, the plasma tool comprising a hand-piece having therein a plasma cell defined in part by a positive electrode and a negative electrode;
• a hand-piece tip comprising a channel in communication with said plasma cell for emission of said inert gas atoms from said tip in said stream;
• an inert gas supply connected to said hand-piece;
• and at least one power supply electrically connected between the positive electrode and the negative electrode;
• (b) providing inert gas flow into the plasma cell;
• (c) initiating a plasma from the inert gas in the plasma cell and sustaining the plasma at a predetermined quantum energy level by applying a pulsed voltage curve from the power supply, the plasma comprising the plurality of high quantum energy inert gas atoms, a plurality of ions, and a plurality of free electrons;
• (d) emitting a stream of the high quantum energy inert gas atoms from the channel in the tip, the inert gas atoms having a quantum energy sufficient to vaporize or liquefy the first material but not the second material;
• and
• (e) using said high quantum energy inert gas atoms to remove the first material while keeping the second material intact.

A method for removing or cutting a first material in an area where it is desired not to damage a second material in close proximity to the first material, the method comprising:

• (a) submerging a target region of the first material under a liquid;
• (b) providing a plasma tool adapted to emit a plurality of high quantum energy inert gas atoms in a stream, the plasma tool comprising a hand-piece having therein a plasma cell defined in part by a positive electrode and a negative electrode;
• a hand-piece tip comprising a channel in communication with said plasma cell for emission of said inert gas atoms from said tip in said stream;
• an inert gas supply connected to said hand-piece;
• and at least one power supply electrically connected between the positive electrode and the negative electrode;
• (c) providing inert gas flow into the plasma cell;
• (d) initiating a plasma from the inert gas in the plasma cell and sustaining the plasma at a predetermined quantum energy level by applying a pulsed voltage from the power supply, the plasma comprising the plurality of high quantum energy inert gas atoms, a plurality of ions, and a plurality of free electrons;
• (e) emitting a stream of the high quantum energy inert gas atoms from the channel in the tip;
• and
• (f) using said high quantum energy inert gas atoms to remove or cut the first material, in which the liquid absorbs at least some of any inert gas atoms deflected by the first material.

A method for performing a surgical procedure comprising:

• (a) providing a plasma tool adapted to emit a plurality of high quantum energy inert gas atoms in a stream, the plasma tool comprising a hand-piece having therein a plasma cell defined in part by a positive electrode and a negative electrode;
• a hand-piece tip comprising a channel in communication with said plasma cell for emission of said inert gas atoms from said tip in said stream;
• an inert gas supply connected to said hand-piece;
• and at least one power supply electrically connected between the positive electrode and the negative electrode;
• (b) providing inert gas flow into the plasma cell;
• (c) initiating a plasma from the inert gas in the plasma cell and sustaining the plasma at a predetermined quantum energy level by applying a pulsed voltage from the power supply, the plasma comprising the plurality of high quantum energy inert gas atoms, a plurality of ions, and a plurality of free electrons;
• (d) emitting a stream of the high quantum energy inert gas atoms from the channel in the tip;
• and
• (e) removing a plurality of bio-molecules from a target area by impacting the bio-molecules with the high quantum energy inert gas atoms.

A method of making a plasma tool having a limited maximum total energy and/or quantum energy of high quantum energy inert gas atoms that can be emitted from the plasma tool, the plasma tool comprising a hand-piece adapted to be connected to a source of inert gas, a power supply, and a source of coolant, the hand-piece comprising:

• a plasma cell defined in part by a positive electrode and a negative electrode that are in electrical communication with the power supply for receiving (a) an ionization voltage sufficient to initiate a plasma in which high quantum energy inert gas atoms are formed from the inert gas, and (b) a pulsed voltage sufficient to sustain the plasma;
• a tip comprising a channel in communication with the plasma cell for directing the high quantum energy inert gas atoms to a target, the channel having a length;
• and
• a coolant circulation system within the hand-piece, including a portion which transfers heat from the plasma cell and the channel, the portion having a cooling factor dependent upon dimensions of the plasma cell and the channel;
• the method comprising limiting the maximum total energy and/or quantum energy emitted by selecting the dimensions of the plasma cell and channel to affect the cooling factor, and assembling the plasma tool using said dimensions.