Development of an atmospheric cold-plasma torch for biomedical applications

• Grant number: 24/08430-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2024
• End date: September 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Electrical Engineering - Electrical, Magnetic and Electronic Measurements, Instrumentation
• Principal Investigator: Giuseppe Antonio Cirino
• Grantee: David Amorim Silva
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This research project proposes the implementation of a prototype that consists of in a cold plasma torch, operating at atmospheric pressure (CPAP), aiming wound healing therapy. The main reasons for this project are the relevance of this subject to civil society and the interest of a private company: PPA-Care Ltda, created as a medical division spin-off from the company PPA Ltda, founded 40 years ago. This device consists of a glass tube approximately 20 cm long and 1 cm in external diameter. A gas is injected at one end; at the other end, a CPAP torch must be ejected. The torch range is about 4 cm (can be adjusted). CPAP torches are implemented from various gases, such as N2, atmospheric air and noble gases. In all cases there must be a percentage of reactive gases to obtain the desired effectsconsidering biomedical applications. The main features of this prototype should be: (i) portable, compact device (typically, similar to a pen); (ii) plasma torch at room temperature, with a length of the order of 5 cm typically (the torch length can be adjusted between 1 and 5 cm depending primerely on the flow of gas injected into the device); (iii) discharge ignition by an AC, DC or pulsed voltage source; (iv) presence of oxygen, nitrogen and moisture in order to create chemically reactive species, enabling wound healing; (v) the torch remains in operation for several hours stable, at room temperature; (vi) the device must be relatively easy to build by the employment of low-cost materials. A high voltage circuit must be used to initiate the electrical discharge. This energy source can be AC (low frequency), RF or pulsed.