SELF-STERILIZING DEVICE USING PLASMA FIELDS

• US 20110116967A1
• Filed: 11/21/2008
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Zawoy, Karl, Roy, Subrata
• Granted Patent: US 9,757,487 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/14 Plasma, i.e. ionised gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/11 Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/2406 using dielectric barrier discharges, i.e. with a dielectric interposed between the electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/34 Details, e.g. electrodes, nozzles

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate to a method and apparatus for self-sterilizing a surface or other portion of the apparatus and/or sterilizing other objects. Embodiments can utilize self-generated and/or remotely controlled plasma fields for the purpose of self-sterilization and/or sterilization of another object. Embodiments of the invention can have broad applications in procedures and equipment requiring the sterility of devices used for medical procedures, decontamination procedures, drug delivery, sterility of consumer products, and sterility of food preparation equipment and tools.

Claims

1. A device capable of sterilizing or decontaminating at least a portion of a surface of the device, comprising:

a surface; and

a means for generating a plasma that sterilizes or decontaminates at least a portion of the surface.

2-71. -71. (canceled)

72. A method of sterilizing at least a portion of a surface of a device, comprising:

providing a means to produce a plasma proximate a surface of a device;

causing the means to produce the plasma to produce the plasma for a duration sufficient to sterilize or decontaminate at least a portion of the surface.

73. The method according to claim 72, wherein the means to produce plasma proximate the surface of the device comprises:

providing one or more first electrodes located proximate a surface of a device;

providing one or more second electrodes located proximate the one or more first electrodes;

wherein causing the means to produce the plasma to produce the plasma for a duration sufficient to sterilize or decontaminate the at least a portion of the surface comprises;

supplying a voltage across at least one of the one or more first electrodes and at least one of the one or more second electrodes so as to create a plasma that sterilizes or decontaminates the surface.

74. The method according to claim 73, further comprising providing one or more sensors for detecting potential contamination of the surface or contamination of the surface.

75. The method according to claim 73, further comprising:

exposing the surface to an environment having nonsterile matter contaminants; and

after such exposure, supplying a voltage across at least one of the one or more first electrodes and at least one of the one or more second electrodes so as to create a plasma that sterilizes or decontaminates the surface.

76. The method according to claim 72, wherein the means for generating the plasma comprises a means for dielectric barrier discharge.

77. The method according to claim 73, wherein the device is a surgical surface.

78. The method according to claim 73, further comprising providing one or more sensors for detecting potential contamination of the surface or contamination of the surface.

79. The method according to claim 73, wherein the surface is on a laminate material comprising:

a first electrode layer, wherein the first electrode layer incorporates the one or more first electrodes;

a second electrode layer, wherein the second electrode layer incorporates the one or more second electrodes; and

a dielectric layer, wherein the dielectric material of the dielectric layer is located between the at least one of the one or more first electrodes and the at least one of the one or more second electrodes that the voltage is supplied across to produce plasma.

80. The method according to claim 73, wherein the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode are configured such that the voltage applied across the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode results in a dielectric barrier discharge.

81. The method according to claim 73, wherein the device is capable of holding a fluid in a container portion of the device, wherein the surface is a surface of the container portion of the device.

82. The method according to claim 79, wherein the surface further comprises:

a plurality of apertures extending through the laminate material from a first side to a second side of the laminate material located opposite of the laminate material from the first side, wherein the voltage applied generates a plasma discharge through the plurality of apertures, wherein the surface is a surface of at least one of the plurality of apertures.

83. The method according to claim 82, wherein the plasma is ejected outward toward the first side, wherein the plasma ejected toward the first side sterilizes a first outer surface of the first side.

84. The method according to claim 82, wherein the plasma discharge is also ejected toward the second side, wherein the plasma ejected toward the second side sterilizes a second outer surface of the second side.

85. The method according to claim 73, wherein the surface is located on a first section of the device and the one or more first electrodes and the one or more second electrodes are located on a second section of the device, such that the first section and the second section are moveably connected to each other such that the first section and the second section can transition between a first position and a second position, wherein when the first section and second section are in the first position the one or more first electrodes are located proximate the surface such that applying the voltage across the at least one of the one or more first electrodes and the at least one of the one or more second electrodes generates the plasma that sterilizes and/or decontaminates the surface.

86. The method according to claim 73, wherein the surface and the one or more first electrodes are located on a first section of the device and the one or more second electrodes are located on a second section of the device, such that the first section and the second section are moveably connected to each other such that the first section and the second section can transition between a first position and a second position, wherein when the first section and second section are in the first position the one or more first electrodes are located proximate the surface such that applying the voltage across the at least one of the one or more first electrodes and the at least one of the one or more second electrodes generates the plasma that sterilizes and/or decontaminates the surface.

87. The method according to claim 85, wherein in the first position the first section is retracted into the second section.

88. The method according to claim 87, wherein in the first position the second section is extended out to surround the first section.

89. The method according to claim 87, wherein in the first position the second section is extended out into the first section.

90. The method according to claim 85, wherein the first section is selected from the group consisting of:

needle shafts, hypodermic needles, catheters, tubes, scalpels, knives, implantable devices, syringes, electrodes, surgical instruments, food preparation equipment, drug delivery, and cannulas.

91. The method according to claim 73, wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of:

needle shafts, hypodermic needles, catheters, tubes, scalpels, knives, implantable devices, syringes, electrodes, surgical instruments, food preparation equipment, drug delivery, and cannulas, balloon catheter, urinary catheter, guiding catheter, ablation device, stent, and implantable device.

92. The method according to claim 73, wherein the surface and the one or more first electrodes and the one or more second electrodes are located on a first section, wherein the first section can be extended out of a second section of the device such that during generation of the plasma the surface can be moved over at least a portion of an object for sterilization by the plasma, wherein the first section can be retracted back into the second section after sterilization of the object.

93. The method according to claim 92, wherein the surface has a cylindrical shape.

94. The method according to claim 73, wherein the surface is an inner surface of the device.

95. The method according to claim 94, wherein the surface is cylindrically shaped.

96. The method according to claim 94, wherein at least a portion of the surface is concave.

97. The method according to claim 94, wherein the device is a beaker or flask.

98. The method according to claim 94, wherein the device is a drug delivery port or a pipette.

99. The method according to claim 73, wherein the surface is a flexible surface.

100. The method according to claim 73, wherein the surface is a woven surface.

101. The method according to claim 73, wherein the surface comprises Teflon™

.

102. The method according to claim 73, wherein the one or more first electrodes and the one or more second electrodes form a pixilated electrode matrix.

103. The method according to claim 102, wherein the pixilated electrodes have a cross-sectional diameter in the range of 1 μ

m to 100 μ

m.

104. The method according to claim 102, wherein the pixilated electrodes have a cross-sectional diameter in the range of 1 μ

m to 10 μ

m.

105. The method according to claim 73, wherein the one or more first electrodes comprise a first wire electrode, wherein the one or more second electrodes comprise a second wire electrode, wherein the first wire electrode and the second wire electrode are braided.

106. The device according to claim 105, wherein the surface is an outer surface of a tube, wherein the braided first wire electrode and second wire electrode are positioned within a body of the tube.

107. The method according to claim 105, wherein the surface is an inner surface of a tube, wherein the braided first wire electrode and second wire electrode are positioned within a body of the tube.

108. The method according to claim 107, wherein the tube is at least part of a medical device selected from the group consisting of:

a balloon catheter, urinary catheter, guiding catheter, ablation device, an implantable device, and a stent.

109. The method according to claim 73, wherein the device is a cutting board.

110. The method according to claim 73, wherein the plasma substantially eliminates one or more of the following from the at least a portion of the surface:

living organisms, tissue, germs, bacteria, pathogens, biological agents, viruses, metabolically inert agents, pyrons, organic matter, and microorganisms.

111. The method according to claim 73, wherein the plasma sterilizes or decontaminates the entire surface.

112. The method according to claim 78, further comprising automatically causing the means to produce the plasma upon the one or more sensors detecting potential contamination of the surface or contamination of the surface.

113. The method according to claim 73, wherein the one or more first electrodes proximate the surface have a coating such that the one or more electrodes are not exposed to the environment.

114. The method according to claim 79, wherein the one or more first electrodes proximate the surface have a coating such that the one or more electrodes are not exposed to the environment.

115. The method according to claim 79, wherein the surface of the dielectric coating that would be exposed to the environment is coated with a conductive or semi-conductive material that enhances the generation of the plasma.

116. The method according to claim 115, wherein the conductive or semi-conductive material comprises on or more of the following:

carbon nanotubes, nanowires, conductive polymers, and nanorods.

117. The method according to claim 73, wherein the one or more first electrodes is coated with a conductive or semi-conductive material that enhances the generation of the plasma.

118. The method according to claim 117, wherein the conductive or semi-conductive material comprises on or more of the following:

carbon nanotubes, nanowires, conductive polymers, and nanorods.

119. The method according to claim 79, wherein the one or more first electrodes is coated with a conductive or semi-conductive material that enhances the generation of the plasma.

120. The method according to claim 119, wherein the conductive or semi-conductive material comprises on or more of the following:

carbon nanotubes, nanowires, conductive polymers, and nanorods.

121. The method according to claim 78, wherein the one or more sensors are coated with a conductive or semi-conductive material that enhances the sensitivity and/or specificity of the one or more sensors.

122. The method according to claim 121, wherein the conductive or semi-conductive material comprises one or more of the following:

carbon nanotubes, nanowires, conductive polymers, and nanorods.

123. The method according to claim 113, wherein the coating is coated with a second coating of a conductive or semi-conductive material that enhances the generation of the plasma.

124. The method according to claim 123, wherein the conductive or semi-conductive material comprises on or more of the following:

carbon nanotubes, nanowires, conductive polymers, and nanorods.

125. The method according to claim 78, further comprising a coating over the one or more sensors such that the one or more sensors are not exposed to the environment.

126. The method according to claim 125, wherein the coating is coated with a second coating of a conductive or semi-conductive material that enhances the sensitivity and/or specificity of the one or more sensors.

127. The method according to claim 126, wherein the conductive or semi-conductive material comprises one or more of the following:

carbon nanotubes, nanowires, conductive polymers, and nanorods.

128. The method according to claim 102, further comprising one or more sensors for detecting potential contamination of the surface or contamination of the surface.

129. The method according to claim 128, further comprising automatically sterilizing or decontaminating the surface upon the one or more sensors detecting potential contamination of the surface or contamination of the surface.

130. The method according to claim 129, further comprising sterilizing or decontaminating only portions of the surface that the one or more sensors detect potential contamination of the surface or contamination of the surface by exciting pixilated electrodes in the portions of the surface that the potential contamination of the surface or contamination of the surface occurs.

131. The method according to claim 73, further comprising sterilizing or decontaminating one or more objects positioned on the surface.

132. The method according to claim 131, wherein the device automatically sterilizes the object when the objects are positioned on the surface.