{"id":531,"date":"2020-02-19T15:10:45","date_gmt":"2020-02-19T15:10:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/techtransfer.euro-fusion.eu\/?p=531"},"modified":"2022-02-28T15:14:19","modified_gmt":"2022-02-28T15:14:19","slug":"radiofrequency-low-temperature-plasma-source-for-biomedical-use","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/techtransfer.euro-fusion.eu\/index.php\/2020\/02\/19\/radiofrequency-low-temperature-plasma-source-for-biomedical-use\/","title":{"rendered":"Radiofrequency low-temperature plasma source for biomedical use"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Sourcing new fusion technologies everywhere in Europe to foster your innovation… <\/em> <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Abstract<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The radiofrequency plasma source is a tool developed at Consorzio RFX (Italy) whose main research field is magnetically confined fusion plasmas. The plasma source is a handheld device producing a helium low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma that creates active chemical species enabling biological and therapeutic effect with no direct contact. RFX holds a European patent on the device and seeks companies willing to get a license to develop a commercial product.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

DOWNLOAD THE TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTION<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Description of the Technology<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The\nRF plasma source for biomedical applications is a tool developed at Consorzio RFX\nin Padova,\nItaly, a research institute set up by the major Italian research institutions\n(CNR, ENEA, INFN), University of Padova and Acciaierie Venete S.p.A. Its primary mission is to perform\nresearch in the field of magnetically confined fusion plasmas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nRF plasma source is a handheld device which produces a helium low-temperature\natmospheric pressure plasma, which in turn creates from surrounding air oxygen\nand nitrogen active chemical species, which can give rise to biological and\ntherapeutic effect within the frame of the so-called plasma medicine. The\nsource is mainly constituted by two parallel planar grids, 1 mm apart. An inner\none with a diameter of 10 mm, made of a brass wires is at the end of a tube\nmade of an insulating plastic material. The outer grid, with a diameter of 12\nmm, is also made of brass wires. The latter is electrically connected to one\nend of a grounded copper tube (12 mm outer diameter). A Helium gas flow, with a\ntypical value of 2 L\/min runs through the tube connected to the inner grid. A\nradiofrequency (at about 5 MHz) voltage difference, produced by an ad-hoc power\nsupply, is applied to the two grids, with peak to peak values typically of the\norder of 1 kV, so that a diffuse glow discharge is established in the space between\nthem. The power coupled to the plasma is very low, of the order of 0.5 W, so\nthat no appreciable heating of the gas takes place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Effects\nwhich\nhave been demonstrated with in-vitro studies include disinfections from\nbacteria and fungi (with particular emphasis to the application of disinfection\nof the cornea), acceleration of wound healing, and selective killing of cancer\ncells. Other potential applications are related to dermatological treatments.\nIn the context of corneal infections, the device could be used to effectively\ntreat cases which have proven not to respond to traditional therapies. For\nwound healing applications, the treatment has the strong advantage of being\npainless. Finally, for cancer treatment it could be used in the operating\ntheatre to complement surgical tumor\nremoval,\nmaking sure that residual cancer cells are induced to commit apoptosis.\nFurthermore, it could be tested to induce tumor reduction in cases where surgical removal\nwould be problematic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Innovation and advantages of the offer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The device is different from other tools developed in the framework of plasma medicine in giving rise to an indirect treatment, with no direct contact of the plasma with the substrate, and no electric current flowing to it. Such gentle treatment makes it suitable to the application to very delicate surfaces, such as the cornea (eye surface). The plasma source has been developed by a team of plasma physicists, with expertise on plasma production at atmospheric pressure and radiofrequency power. The core team has developed a network of collaborations concerning chemical, biological and medical effects. The tool is very easy to use, and can be made easier by appropriate engineering, so that a medical doctor could in principle have just a on\/off switch to operate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Non fusion applications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In fusion sector the technology is applied in plasma physics and radiofrequency plasma production. Beyond the fusion sector, this technology is applied in plasma medicine for biological and therapeutic effects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

EUROfusion Heritage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The plasma medicine activity stems from the excellent expertise achieved by physicist at Consorzio RFX on the topic of plasma physics and radiofrequency plasma production. This expertise is the result of the participation into EUROfusion projects. Consorzio RFX has strong expertise related to physics and engineering issues associated to magnetically confined fusion devices and neutral beams for plasma heating. In particular, theoretical and experimental plasma physics and RF power expertise have been crucial for the development of this plasma source.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sourcing new fusion technologies everywhere in Europe to foster your innovation… Abstract The radiofrequency plasma source is a tool developed at Consorzio RFX (Italy) whose main research field is magnetically confined fusion plasmas. The plasma source is a handheld device producing a helium low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma that creates active chemical species enabling biological and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"spay_email":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/techtransfer.euro-fusion.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/531"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/techtransfer.euro-fusion.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/techtransfer.euro-fusion.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/techtransfer.euro-fusion.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/techtransfer.euro-fusion.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=531"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/techtransfer.euro-fusion.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/531\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":567,"href":"http:\/\/techtransfer.euro-fusion.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/531\/revisions\/567"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/techtransfer.euro-fusion.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=531"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/techtransfer.euro-fusion.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=531"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/techtransfer.euro-fusion.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=531"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}