The technology refers to an innovative plasma (ionized gas) source operating at atmospheric pressure and low electric power levels. A cold plasma is produced, characterized by an ion temperature significantly lower than the electron temperature. Partial ionization of a Helium flux is induced by a time-varying electric field in between two parallel grids, both perpendicular to the flux itself. The plasma flux, mixing with ambient air, induces the formation of reactive chemical species (mainly Oxygen and Nitrogen radical species) capable of stimulating cellular reactions of interest for biomedical applications. Among them, disinfection of sensitive biological tissues (e.g., the cornea), with no effects on healthy cells viability, improved wound healing and tumor cells apoptosis.
A variety of cold plasma sources has been developed by research groups all over the world for biomedical purposes. These sources exploit different schemes for the ionization of the working gas. The plasma is put in contact with the tissue to be treated and some electric current is induced to flow into the biological material. This kind of treatment is thus named “direct”. The cold plasma source here proposed is different from the other existing ones as an “indirect” treatment is performed, with no contact between the plasma and the biological sample and with electric currents fully confined inside the source itself. The effect on cell mechanisms is induced by the chemical species produced and carried by the neutral gas flow. This peculiarity allows to perform plasma treatment also on extremely sensitive surfaces, such as that of the cornea, which, otherwise, would be damaged by a direct treatment.
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