Development of a plasma sterilizer

• Grant number: 97/07411-1
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: June 01, 1998
• End date: October 31, 2002
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Physics of Fluids, Plasma Physics and Electrical Discharge
• Principal Investigator: Tadashi Shiosawa
• Grantee: Tadashi Shiosawa
• Company: Valitech Indústria e Comércio Ltda
• City: Campinas

Abstract

This project entails the development of a sterilizer for contaminated surgical, odontological and packaging materials, through the use of plasma technology. The development will be done in stages. In the first stage, market research will be carried out, looking at the technical viability and marketability of the process to be developed. In this phase contacts and visits will be undertaken to companies and institutions that use surgical, odontological and packaging materials in general which need to be sterilized before use, aiming to obtain information about these materials such as their physical and clinical properties and the level of sterilization necessary. Parallel to this, a prototype sterilizer will be built, where the conditions of the plasma discharge of some gases will be investigated. Once the parameters for the luminescent discharge (plasma) have been defined, and taking into account the results of the market research, a sterilizer will be built in which tests on the elimination of standard bacteria will be carried out as well as studies of the effect of the plasma on the sterilized material itself and the determination of the best conditions for luminescent discharge sterilization. From the results of this research project, our ultimate goal will be to manufacture a plasma sterilizer that meets the needs of the market. (AU)