# US 9,006,976 B2 · Cold plasma treatment devices and associated methods

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- Number: US 9,006,976 B2
- Document ID: US9006976B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/620,118
- Filed: 2012-09-14
- Published: 2013-03-21
- Granted: 2015-04-14
- Earliest claimed: 2011-09-15
- Assignees: Plasmology4, Inc.
- Applicants: Gregory A. Watson; Robert M. Hummel; Marc C. Jacofsky; David J. Jacofsky
- Inventors: Gregory A. Watson; Robert M. Hummel; Marc C. Jacofsky; David J. Jacofsky
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9006976B2

## CPC

- H05H 1/46: using applied electromagnetic fields, e.g. high frequency or microwave energy (H05H1/26 takes precedence)
- A61L 2/00: Disinfection or sterilisation of materials or objects, in general; Accessories therefor
- A61L 2/02: using physical processes
- A61L 2/14: Plasma, i.e. ionised gases
- A61L 2/20: Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours
- A61M 15/02: with activated or ionised {fluids, e.g. electrohydrodynamic [EHD] or electrostatic devices}; Ozone-inhalators {with radioactive tagged particles}
- A61M 16/06: Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
- A61M 16/12: by mixing different gases
- A61N 1/40: Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling (microwave apparatus A61N5/00); {Applying radio-frequency signals}
- A61N 1/44: Applying ionised fluids {(ion generators H01J37/00)}
- H01J 37/321: {the radio frequency energy being inductively coupled to the plasma}
- H01J 37/32348: {Dielectric barrier discharge}
- H01J 37/3244: {Gas supply means}
- H01J 37/3266: {Magnetic control means}
- A61L 2103/05: Living organisms or biological materials
- A61L 2202/11: Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps
- A61M 2202/0208: Oxygen
- A61M 2202/025: Helium
- H05H 1/466: {using capacitive coupling means, e.g. electrodes}
- H05H 2240/20: Non-thermal plasma
- H05H 2242/26: Matching networks
- H05H 2245/36: Sterilisation of objects, liquids, volumes or surfaces
- H05H 2277/10: Medical devices
- H05H: PLASMA TECHNIQUE (apparatus or processes specially adapted for producing X-rays H05G2/00); PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OF NEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMIC BEAMS
- 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)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)
- H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H)

## Abstract

A compact cold plasma device for generating cold plasma having temperatures in the range 65 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The compact cold plasma device has a magnet-free configuration and an induction-grid-free configuration. An additional configuration uses an induction grid in place of the input electrode to generate the cold plasma. A high voltage power supply is provided that includes a controllable switch to release energy from a capacitor bank to a dual resonance RF transformer. A controller adjusts the energy input to the capacitor bank, as well as the trigger to the controllable switch.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A cold plasma device, comprising:
a housing having a high voltage electrical inlet port;
a gas compartment disposed within the housing, wherein the gas compartment is a magnet-free environment, and wherein the gas compartment includes a gas inlet port to receive a gas flow and a gas outlet port, and wherein the gas compartment further includes an induction-grid-free environment; and
an electrode disposed within the gas compartment, wherein the electrode is coupled to the high voltage electrical inlet port, wherein the electrode comprises multiple size components configured to resonate at frequencies associated with a harmonic rich power signal received via the high voltage electrical inlet port, and wherein the electrode is configured to generate cold plasma for release via the gas outlet port, the cold plasma having a temperature in a range of 65 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The cold plasma device of claim 1, wherein the gas compartment further includes an induction grid coupled to the high voltage electrical inlet port to thereby interact with the gas.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The cold plasma device of claim 1, wherein the gas comprises a noble gas.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The cold plasma device of claim 1, wherein the gas comprises helium.

### Claim 5

A cold plasma device, comprising:
a housing having a high voltage electrical inlet port;
a gas compartment disposed within the housing, wherein the gas compartment is an induction-grid-free environment, and wherein the gas compartment includes a gas inlet port to receive a gas flow and a gas outlet port; and
an electrode disposed within the gas compartment, wherein the electrode is coupled to the high voltage electrical inlet port, wherein the electrode comprises multiple size components configured to resonate at frequencies associated with a harmonic rich power signal received via the high voltage electrical inlet port, and wherein the electrode is configured to generate cold plasma for release via the gas outlet port, the cold plasma having a temperature in a range of 65 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The cold plasma device of claim 5, wherein the gas compartment further includes a magnet configured to at least partially direct the cold plasma.

### Claim 7

A cold plasma device, comprising:
a housing having a high voltage electrical inlet port;
a gas compartment disposed within the housing, wherein the gas compartment includes a gas inlet port to receive a gas flow and a gas outlet port, and wherein the gas compartment further includes an induction-grid-free environment; and a modular electrode disposed within the gas compartment, wherein the modular electrode is coupled to the high voltage electrical inlet port, wherein the modular electrode is configured to generate cold plasma for release via the gas outlet port, the cold plasma having a temperature in a range of 65 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, and wherein the modular electrode is configured for easy insertion and removal from the gas compartment.

### Claim 8

A cold plasma high voltage power supply, comprising:
a capacitor charging power supply having one or more command inputs and an output;
a capacitor bank having one or more capacitors, the capacitor bank being coupled to the output of the capacitor charging power supply;
a controllable switch having an input port, an output port and a control port, the controllable switch coupled to the capacitor bank;
a double tuned RF transformer having an input and an output, the input coupled to the output port of the controllable switch, and the double tuned RF transformer configured to resonate at a first frequency and at a second frequency; and
a controller configured to provide commands to the one or more command inputs of the capacitor charging power supply, and to provide a trigger pulse to the control port of the controllable switch.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The cold plasma high voltage power supply of claim 8, wherein the controllable switch comprises a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR).

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The cold plasma high voltage power supply of claim 8, wherein the commands include one or more of an output voltage command and a frequency command.

### Claim 11

A method, comprising:
providing gas to a gas compartment via a gas inlet port, the gas compartment being a magnet-free environment located within a housing having a high voltage electrical inlet port coupled to an electrode disposed within the gas compartment, and wherein the gas compartment further includes an induction-grid-free environment; and providing a pulsed voltage to the electrode via the high voltage electrical inlet port to thereby generate cold plasma for release via a gas outlet port of the gas compartment, the cold plasma having a temperature in a range of 65 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, wherein the electrode comprises multiple size components configured to resonate at frequencies associated with a harmonic rich power signal received via the high voltage electrical inlet port.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising:
providing the pulsed voltage to an induction grid via the high voltage electrical inlet port to thereby interact with the gas.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the gas comprises a noble gas.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the gas comprises helium.

### Claim 15

A method, comprising:
providing gas to a gas compartment via a gas inlet port, the gas compartment being an induction-grid-free environment located within a housing having a high voltage electrical inlet port coupled to an electrode disposed within the gas compartment; and
providing a pulsed voltage to the electrode via the high voltage electrical inlet port to thereby generate cold plasma for release via a gas outlet port of the gas compartment, the cold plasma having a temperature in a range of 65 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, wherein the electrode comprises multiple size components configured to resonate at frequencies associated with a harmonic rich power signal received via the high voltage electrical inlet port.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising:
providing a magnet within the gas compartment to at least partially direct the cold plasma.

### Claim 17

A method comprising:
providing energy from a capacitor charging power supply to a capacitor bank having one or more capacitors;
forwarding, using a controllable switch, the energy from the capacitor bank to a double tuned RF transformer to thereby generate a rich harmonic output voltage; and
outputting the rich harmonic output voltage from the double tuned RF transformer to a cold plasma device.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further comprising:
adjusting, using a controller, at least one of an output voltage command to the capacitor charging power supply, a frequency command to the capacitor charging power supply, and a trigger command to the controllable switch.