INTRO SENTENCE:
UCLA researchers in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering have developed a plasma source which overcomes the large size constraints and operating difficulty of existing plasma sources by integrating an ambient air source and portable design that allows for at-home implementation of the technology in fields such as dental care.
BACKGROUND:
Cold plasma, an ionizing gas which operates at room temperature and normal atmospheric pressure, has been applied to various medical procedures such as wound healing, sterilization, blood coagulation, skin disease, cancer therapy, etc. The efficacy of cold plasma is twofold: either tissue or organic matter are ablated in a “plasma killing” effect or treated therapeutically through a “plasma healing” effect. The versatility of this technology presents a promising avenue for a variety of biomedical treatments. Current plasma sources, however, often occupy large volumes and require separate maintenance, training, and coordination. A source that is portable and versatile is needed to enable widespread application of plasma treatments.
INNOVATION:
UCLA researchers in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering have developed a versatile, compact, low-cost plasma source which can be designed with a variety of shapes (cylindrical, conical, square, and rectangular). The technology is the first of its kind to employ ambient air as the gas source, enabling facile at-home or in-office integration. The standardized, convenient and simple operation makes the system ideal for replacing many self-treatments, particularly in the field of dental care, as the source can kill bacteria without causing tissue damage. By adding flavorings, the source can resemble mouthwash and gum while whitening and cleaning teeth. Altogether, the compact nature and usability of this technology could transform oral healthcare.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS:
- Dental health
- Disease prevention and treatment
- Teeth whitening
- Other surgical and biomedical processes
- Therapeutics
ADVANTAGES:
- Integration of cold plasma (ambient pressure, room temperature)
- Simple, compact and portable design
- Compatibility with various source of gas including ambient air
- Compatible with multiple water sources
- Customizable shape
- Low cost
- Facile operation
DEVELOPMENT-TO-DATE:
Working parts for prototypes of the devices have been tested successfully, and the concepts have been validated. Current experiments exploring the capabilities, limitations of the device, as well as potential improvements are ongoing. The uncertainty of the analysis is also currently being quantified.