Next generation Non-Thermal Plasma Technology demonstrates effectiveness in the fight against tough infectious agents
TEMPE, Ariz., Jan. 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ChiScan is pleased to announce development of a novel device for creating Non-Thermal Plasma (NTP). Huan Truong (ChiScan CEO) stated that, "Although there are currently a number of technologies capable of generating cold plasma, our proprietary cold plasma generating technology is novel due to its size, portability, no requirement for any noble gas, precision, robustness, and its ease of application." ChiScan technology has significant utility as a countermeasure for multidrug-resistant and hard-to-treat infectious agents in both clinical and field settings. This next generation cold plasma technology is the result of more than ten years of research and development.
ChiScan LLC is a group of innovative and experienced engineers with the passion for providing solutions to complex problems based on physics, microchip engineering, and manufacturing technology. ChiScan has been designing bio-energy based therapeutic and diagnostic technologies with a focus on infectious diseases. Thanks to low cost modern electronics (such as those used in digital control and processing power), it is feasible to employ this technology in both the field and medical treatment centers.
For more than 20 years, non-thermal atmospheric pressure or "cold" plasma has been investigated for biomedical applications in the U.S. and around the world. Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) is a practical method of generating cold plasma from air at ambient temperature. According to Bryon Eckert and Brad Eckert, the two inventors and co-founders of ChiScan, the generated Non-Thermal Plasma has significant utility in solving today's and the future's health care related problems in a cost effective and non-invasive manner.
"Our portable plasma driver provides power level control and an automatic tuning mechanism for driving a large range of array sizes and shapes up to 25 square inches active area. Our device would be ideal for the field and resource limited regions," said Huan Truong.
"In this novel device we have used an extensive internal interlocks guard. The exposure time, duration, power level and plasma modulation frequency (protocols) can be programmed into the plasma array by the operator and hopefully in the near future by medical practitioners via an application on smartphones or tablet devices," said Brad Eckert.
The novel cold plasma array is a sheet of low current corona discharges formed in the shape of an array. The array is formed from flexible and sizable PCB (printed circuit board) material and is waterproof since it is enclosed in a sleeve of expanded PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene), which functions as ventilation. The array is attached to a portable driver through a length of coaxial cable.
An extruded aluminum case provides a large battery capacity and efficient thermal management, allowing repeated therapy sessions at high power (large arrays) without frequent recharging. It recharges a built-in battery and uses various power conversion circuits to supply AC and DC at appropriate voltage and current levels as indicated by the load of ID pin. The ID pin is a one-wire interface used for the identification of accessories. A color LCD display shows all driver parameters.
"Our mobile plasma driver powered by DC battery supply efficiently drives the plasma array or an array of the optical energy spectrum such as LEDs. The battery supply runs for hours on a single charge to kill infectious agents," said Bryon Eckert.
About ChiScan: ChiScan LLC, located in Tempe, Arizona, was formed by a group of experienced, innovative and passionate engineers with backgrounds in providing solutions for complex problems based on physics, microchip engineering, information and manufacturing technology. Our collaborating and reach-back laboratories for technology evaluation and efficacy testing are located in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Please visit http://www.chiscan.com for further contact information, our investor requested information and technology pages.