US20160361558A1 - Internal cold plasma system - Google Patents

Abstract

A system including an internal cold plasma system, including an internal cold plasma applicator configured to couple to a surface surrounding a cavity and to produce a cold plasma between the internal cold plasma applicator and the surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
• This application claims priority to and benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/173,874 entitled “Internal Cold Plasma System,” filed on Jun. 10, 2015, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
• This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present invention, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
• Modern medical systems enable physicians and veterinarians to treat a wide variety of human and animal ailments. For example, physicians and veterinarians may treat internal ailments using medication, surgery, and radiation. Unfortunately, some of these treatments may have undesirable side effects, long recovery times, etc.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• Certain embodiments commensurate in scope with the originally claimed invention are summarized below. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but rather these embodiments are intended only to provide a brief summary of possible forms of the invention.
• In a first embodiment, a system includes an internal cold plasma system, including an internal cold plasma applicator configured to couple to a surface surrounding a cavity and to produce a cold plasma between the internal cold plasma applicator and the surface.
• In a second embodiment, a system includes an internal cold plasma system, which includes an internal cold plasma applicator configured to couple to a surface surrounding a cavity and to produce a cold plasma between the internal cold plasma applicator and the surface. The internal cold plasma system also includes a controller coupled to the internal cold plasma applicator and configured to produce an electrical signal that forms the cold plasma with the internal cold plasma applicator.
• In a third embodiment, a method includes production an electrical signal with a controller, and generating a cold plasma using the electrical signal with an internal cold plasma applicator configured to couple to a surface surround a cavity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• Various features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying figures in which like characters represent like parts throughout the figures, wherein:
• FIG. 1 is an embodiment of an internal cold plasma system coupled to a patient;
• FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an internal cold plasma system partially inserted into a cavity;
• FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an internal cold plasma system;
• FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an internal cold plasma system partially inserted into a cavity;
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an internal cold plasma system;
• FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an embodiment of an internal cold plasma applicator within lines6-6 ofFIG. 5;
• FIG. 7 is a side view of an embodiment of an internal cold plasma system coupled to patient;
• FIG. 8 is a sectional view of an embodiment of an internal cold plasma applicator within lines8-8 ofFIG. 7; and
• FIG. 9 is another embodiment of a section of an internal cold plasma applicator ofFIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
• One or more specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below. These described embodiments are only exemplary of the present invention. Additionally, in an effort to provide a concise description of these exemplary embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.
• The disclosed embodiments include an internal cold plasma system capable of forming a non-thermal plasma for treating internal wounds (e.g., pain management, blood coagulation), infections (e.g., bacteria, viruses, yeast, fungi, parasites etc.), cancers (e.g., bladder, cervical, prostate, etc.), tumors, and other conditions. The internal cold plasma system includes an internal cold plasma applicator (e.g., internal treatment cold plasma applicator, insertable cold plasma applicator) that enables the system to treat sites/areas within patient cavities or other hard to reach places. For example, the internal cold plasma applicator may be in the form of a conduit (e.g., catheter). The internal cold plasma applicator may also be sized for use in different animal and human cavities (e.g., sinus cavity, ear canal, anal cavity, urethra, bladder, etc.) enabling more effective treatments of internal ailments or conditions. In some embodiments, the internal cold plasma applicator may be sized to disinfect or sanitize equipment (e.g., medical equipment) that are sensitive to chemicals, heat, or otherwise have hard to reach locations. For example, the internal cold plasma system may be used to disinfect difficult to reach cavities and crevices in a piece of equipment that would involve significant effort or disassembly to reach.
• FIG. 1 is an embodiment of apatient10 coupled to an internalcold plasma system12. The internalcold plasma system12 may include an internalcold plasma applicator14, acontroller16, and agas source18. As explained above, the internalcold plasma applicator14 may be in the form of a conduit that facilitates attachment to apatient10. In operation, the internalcold plasma applicator14 may convert gas from thegas source18 or atmospheric gases within thepatient10 into cold plasma (e.g., between the internalcold plasma applicator14 and a cavity wall).
• In order to generate cold plasma, the internal cold plasma system includes acontroller16 with aprocessor20 that executes instructions stored on amemory22. For example, thememory22 may store instructions for controlling the release and flow of gas from thegas source18 and for controlling a cold plasma-generating electrical signal (e.g., change power; amplitude; frequency or frequencies; pulse timing; etc.). The electrical signal may be a multi-frequency, harmonic-rich signal (e.g., a timed pulse electrical signal that is pulsed between 100-1000 Hz with an output voltage between 1-100 kV having multiple A/C waves at multiple frequencies that overlap to produce 2-2,000,000 or more harmonic components between DC and 500 MHz). As the multi-frequency, harmonic-rich electrical signal passes through the gas (e.g., gas from thegas source18 or atmospheric gases); the gas molecules/atoms lose and gain electrons to produce cold plasma with positive ions, negative ions, and electrons. It is believed that the multi-frequency, harmonic-rich electrical signal facilitates removal of electrons from molecules/atoms with less energy than typical plasma formation. Accordingly, the plasma is a low temperature plasma or cold plasma (e.g., a cold plasma with a temperature between approximately 60-120, 60-80, 70-90, 80-100, 90-110, 100-120 degrees Fahrenheit), enabling exposure to a temperature sensitive target substrate (e.g., biological tissue).
• FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an internalcold plasma system12 with an internalcold plasma applicator14 partially inserted into acavity40. Thecavity40 may be in an animal, human, or equipment. Some animal andhuman cavities40 may include a sinus cavity, ear canal, anal cavity, urethra, bladder, etc. As illustrated, the internalcold plasma applicator14 includes a conduit42 (e.g., catheter) with a cavity44 (e.g., passage, lumen, elongated chamber) that contains a conductive fluid, gas, or gel/hydrogel46. Theconduit42 may be made out of a rigid, semi-rigid, or flexible dielectric material that enables a user to insert theconduit42 into a variety ofcavities40. For example, theconduit42 may be made out of a silicone, latex, hydrogels, polyoxymethylene, polyimide, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), acetal homopolymer, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), poly vinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), propylene, copolyester ether, and polyolefin film. In embodiments where theconduit42 is flexible, the flexibility of theconduit42 enables the internalcold plasma applicator14 to conform todifferent cavities40 on a variety ofpatients10. Theconduit42 may also be formed in a variety of cross-sectional shapes that conform to a passageway or cavity40 (e.g., oval, circular, irregular, crescent, etc.).
• In some embodiments, afirst end48 of theconduit42 may be tapered to facilitate alignment and insertion into acavity40 while thesecond end50 receives anelectrode52. Theelectrode52 extends through theconduit42 and into contact with the conductive fluid46 (e.g., saline, potassium, chlorine, etc.). Thefluid46 may be a multi-phase fluid (e.g., gas, gel/hydrogel and/or liquid) that includes conductive material53 (e.g., dissolved salts, carbon, metals, etc.). In operation, the electrical signal from thecontroller16 passes through a cable54 (e.g., HV/RF feed cables) to theelectrode52 and into theconductive fluid46. Theconductive fluid46 then conducts the electric signal through the cavity44 (e.g., lumen) toward a surface of lower electrical potential (e.g., the patient10). As explained above, theconduit42 is made out of a dielectric material. The dielectric material enables the electrical signal to build charge inside theconduit42. Once a sufficient amount of charge builds, the electrical signal crosses through the dielectric material of theconduit42 andgaps56 to the patient's skin (e.g., surface of lower electrical potential). As the electrical signal crosses through thegaps56, the electrical signal forms cold plasma by ionizing atmospheric gases. In other words, the electrical signal enables atmospheric gas molecules/atoms to lose and gain electrons to produce the cold plasma with positive ions, negative ions, and electrons. As the internalcold plasma applicator14 is inserted further and/or rotated within thecavity40, thegaps56 may change position and change size enabling cold plasma treatment of the entire or a substantial portion of the internal surface/walls58 of thecavity40. In some embodiments, the atmospheric gases may form certain ions when converted into a cold plasma. These ions may be ideally suited for killing bacteria or to promote faster healing (e.g., combinations of helium, oxygen, OH ions).
• FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an internalcold plasma system12 with an internalcold plasma applicator14. Like the internalcold plasma applicator14 inFIG. 2, the internalcold plasma applicator14 inFIG. 3 includes aconduit42 with a cavity44 (e.g., lumen) that enables the internalcold plasma applicator14 to receive aconductive fluid46. However, to facilitate cold plasma formation within a cavity40 (e.g., bodily or internal cavity of target), the internalcold plasma applicator14 may include a plurality of spacers70 (e.g., ridges) along anouter surface72 of theconduit42. The internalcold plasma applicator14 may include thesespacers70 along a portion or about the entireouter surface72 of theconduit42. In operation, thespacers70 create distance between theouter conduit surface72 and the interior surface/walls58 of thecavity40 enabling gas (e.g., atmospheric gases) to substantially surround theconduit42 for cold plasma generation. In some embodiments, thespacers70 may be uniform in height and/or spacing. In other embodiments, the height of thespacers70 and/or space between thespacers70 may vary. Furthermore, thespacers70 may extend completely around theconduit42, extend partially around theconduit42, or a combination thereof.
• FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an internalcold plasma system12 with an internalcold plasma applicator14 partially inserted into a cavity40 (e.g., bodily or internal cavity of target). In operation, the internalcold plasma applicator14 delivers agas78 from agas source18 into thecavity40. The internalcold plasma applicator14 then converts thegas78 into a cold plasma. In some embodiments, thegas78 may be a specialized gas that forms certain ions when converted into a cold plasma. These ions may be ideally suited for killing bacteria or to promote faster healing (e.g., combinations of helium, oxygen, OH ions). For example, thegas78 may be a single gas or a mixture of gases (e.g., helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, radon, oxygen, nitrogen, or any combination thereof) that form cold plasmas with different properties suited for specific treatments (e.g., a gas that promotes faster wound healing, blood coagulation, infection treatment, etc.).
• In order to conduct thegas78, the internalcold plasma applicator14 includes aninner conduit80 that rests within a cavity82 (e.g., passage, lumen) of anouter conduit84. Together, the inner andouter conduits80,84 form a gap86 (e.g., annular gap) that enablesgas78, from thegas source18, to flow through theouter conduit84 and around theinner conduit80 to afirst end48 of the internalcold plasma applicator14. As thegas78 reaches thefirst end48, thegas78 exits theouter conduit84 through apertures88 (e.g., circumferentially spaced, axially spaced, or a combination thereof) and into thegaps56. As thegas78 exits through theapertures88, the internalcold plasma applicator14 converts thegas78 into a cold plasma. In some embodiments, thefirst end48 may also be tapered to facilitate alignment and insertion into acavity40. For example, thefirst end48 may be frustoconical or have a curved annular shape (e.g., ball shaped, bulb shaped).
• As illustrated, theinner conduit80 includes aconductive fluid46 and anelectrode52 within the cavity44 (e.g., lumen). As explained above, theconductive fluid46 may be a multi-phase fluid (e.g., gas and/or liquid) that includes conductive material53 (e.g., dissolved salts). In operation, the electrical signal from thecontroller16 passes through the cable54 (e.g., HV/RF feed cables) to theelectrode52 and into theconductive fluid46. Theconductive fluid46 then conducts the electric signal through theinner conduit80 toward ground (e.g., the patient10). Theinner conduit80 is made out of a dielectric material that enables the electrical signal to build charge inside theinner conduit80. After building enough charge, the electrical signal crosses through the dielectric material of theinner conduit80 and through thegas78 in thegaps56 to the patient's skin (e.g., ground). As the electrical signal crosses through thegas78 to ground, the electrical signal converts thegas78 into a cold plasma. In other words, the electrical signal enables the molecules/atoms in thegas78 to lose and gain electrons to produce cold plasma with positive ions, negative ions, and electrons. As the internalcold plasma applicator14 is inserted further and/or rotated within thecavity40, thegaps56 may change size and/or position enabling the entire or a substantial portion of thecavity40 to be treated with cold plasma. In some embodiments, theouter conduit84 may includespacers70, as shown inFIG. 3 and discussed above, that create distance between theouter conduit84 and thecavity40 enabling thegas78 to substantially surround theouter conduit84 during plasma generation.
• The inner andouter conduits80,84 may be made out of a rigid, semi-rigid, or flexible dielectric material that enables a user to insert theconduits80,84 into a variety ofcavities40. For example, theconduits80,84 may be made out of a silicone, latex, hydrogels, polyoxymethylene, polyamide, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), acetal homopolymer, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), poly vinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), propylene, copolyester ether, and polyolefin film. In embodiments where theconduits80,84 are flexible, the flexibility of theconduits80,84 enable the internalcold plasma applicator14 to conform todifferent cavities40 on a variety of patients.
• FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an internalcold plasma system12 with an internalcold plasma applicator14. As illustrated, the internalcold plasma applicator14 includes aconduit98 that branches intosecondary conduits100. WhileFIG. 5 shows threesecondary conduits100, other embodiments may include different numbers of secondary conduits100 (e.g.,1,2,3,4,5, or more). For example, the internalcold plasma applicator14 may include a fluid conduit102 (e.g., balloon port), afluid drainage conduit104, and anelectrode conduit106. In operation, thefluid conduit102 enables a fluid (e.g., gas or liquid) to be pumped into the internalcold plasma applicator14 to inflate aninflatable portion108, wherein the fluid may also be a conductive fluid (e.g., saline, potassium, chlorine, gas, gel/hydrogel, and/or liquid, etc.). For example, the internalcold plasma applicator14 may be inserted into acavity40 and theinflatable portion108 may be inflated to block removal of the internalcold plasma applicator14, or to maintain the internalcold plasma applicator14 in a desired position or location. After insertion, thefluid drainage conduit104 enables fluid to enter or exit the patient10 through anopening110 in theconduit98. For example, the internalcold plasma applicator14 may facilitate the draining of bodily fluids (e.g., urine, blood, etc.) from the patient10 or injecting fluid into the patient10 (e.g., medicine, saline, etc.). In some embodiments, fluid flow into and out of thefluid drainage conduit104 may be controlled with a valve or plug111. Moreover, in some embodiments, the internalcold plasma applicator14 may include additional openings110 (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more). Furthermore, there may be a valve disposed at any of the opening(s)110, and the valve may be controlled via thecontroller16 such that upon receiving a signal from thecontroller16, the valve may be actuated to an open or closed position to open or close the openings (110). For example, after the draining of bodily fluids (e.g., urine, blood, etc.) from thepatient10, theopening110 may be closed.
• As explained above, the internalcold plasma applicator14 enables internal treatment of a patient10 with cold plasma. To facilitate production of cold plasma, the internalcold plasma applicator14 includes theelectrode conduit106. Theelectrode conduit106 enables anelectrode52 electrically coupled to thecontroller16 to communicate with thecavity112. In some embodiments, the internalcold plasma applicator14 may not include theelectrode conduit106. Instead, theelectrode52 may extend through an aperture in theconduit98 or thefluid drainage conduit104. In operation, the electrical signal from thecontroller16 passes through the cable54 (e.g., HV/RF feed cables) to theelectrode52 and into aconductive fluid46 within the internalcold plasma applicator14. Theconductive fluid46 may be a conductive bodily fluid (e.g., urine, blood, etc.) from the patient10 or another conductive fluid (e.g., medicine, saline, etc.) that is injected into thepatient10. Theconductive fluid46 then conducts the electric signal through the cavity112 (e.g., lumen) toward ground (e.g., the patient).
• Theconduit98 andfluid drainage conduit104 may be made out of a dielectric material. As explained above, dielectric material enables an electrical signal to build charge. Accordingly, once enough charge builds, the electrical signal crosses through the dielectric material of theconduit98 and through a gas (e.g., atmospheric gases) to ground (e.g., patient's skin). As the electrical signal passes through the gas, the electrical signal forms cold plasma. In some embodiments, theconduit98 may include spacers (e.g., spacers70 shown inFIG. 3) that maintain a gap between theconduit98 and acavity40 enabling gas (e.g., atmospheric gases) to substantially surround theconduit98 within acavity40. In some embodiments, theconduit98 andconduit102 may include an outer conduit surrounding theconduit98 andconduit102 forming a gap (e.g.,inner conduit80,outer conduit84 withoutapertures88, andgap86 shown inFIG. 4) that enables gas (e.g.,gas78 fromgas source18 shown inFIG. 4) or conductive fluid to flow through the outer conduit and around the inner conduit as discussed below inFIGS. 8 and 9.
• FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the internalcold plasma applicator14 within line6-6 ofFIG. 5. As explained above, the internalcold plasma applicator14 may include an inflatable portion108 (e.g., balloon) that that receives fluid from thefluid conduit102. In operation, theinflatable portion108 may be inflated to block removal of the internalcold plasma applicator14, or to maintain the internalcold plasma applicator14 in a desired position or location. In some embodiments, theinflatable portion108 may cover theopening110 when inflated. For example, when inflated, theinflatable portion108 may be used to block fluid flow into apatient10 and/or block fluid flow out of a patient10 (e.g., urine). In some embodiments, theinflatable portion108 may expand in response to mechanical actuation. In some embodiments, theopening110 may remain opened or closed position in response to mechanical actuation.
• FIG. 7 is a side view of an embodiment of the internalcold plasma system12 with an internalcold plasma applicator14 coupled to apatient10. As illustrated, theconduit98 of the internalcold plasma applicator14 may be inserted into a cavity130 (e.g., bladder) of the patient10 through a passageway132 (e.g., urethra). Once inside thecavity130, theinflatable portion108 may be inflated to retain the internalcold plasma applicator14 in position. Aconductive fluid134 may then be drained or pumped into thecavity130 through theopening110 in theconduit98. For example, a patient's bladder may be drained in order to generate cold plasma within the bladder and urethra.
• After draining or filling theconduit98, an operator may stop the flow ofconductive fluid134 through thefluid drainage conduit104 with the valve or plug111, to retain theconductive fluid134 within theconduit98. Once theconduit98 fills with theconductive fluid134, the internalcold plasma applicator14 is able to conduct the electric signal toward ground (e.g., the patient10). Theconduit98 andfluid drainage conduit104 may be made out of a dielectric material. As explained above, dielectric material enables the electrical signal to build charge within theconduit98. After building a sufficient amount of charge, the electrical signal crosses the dielectric material and through a gas (e.g., atmospheric gases in the gaps56) to the patient's tissue(s) (e.g., ground). As the electrical signal crosses through thegas containing gaps56, the internalcold plasma applicator14 forms cold plasma in thepassageway132 and/or within thecavity130. In some embodiments, the internalcold plasma applicator14 may be further inserted, rotated, etc. to change the position of thegas containing gaps56 enabling treatment of all or a substantial portion of thepassageway132 andcavity130. The natural or normal movement of the patient10 may also move the internalcold plasma applicator14, which changes the size and/or position of thegaps56 enabling treatment of all or a substantial portion of thepassageway132 andcavity130.
• FIGS. 8 and 9 are sectional views of embodiments of an internalcold plasma applicator14 within line8-8 ofFIG. 7. As illustrated inFIGS. 8 and 9, the conduit98 (e.g., inner conduit) rests within or extends through anouter conduit142. In other words, theconduits142 and98 may be disposed one around another in a coaxial or concentric arrangement to define an intermediate passage or gap144 (e.g., annular passage or gap). Thepassage144 enables a fluid flow between theconduits142 and98. In the embodiment ofFIG. 8, theouter conduit142 couples to theinflatable portion108 but does not extend completely through theinflatable portion108, while theinner conduit98 couples to and extends completely through theinflatable portion108 and protrudes away from theinflatable portion108 into thecavity130. In the embodiment ofFIG. 9, both theinner conduit98 and theouter conduit142 couple to and extend completely through theinflatable portion108. In particular, theinner conduit98 and theouter conduit142 both protrude away from theinflatable portion108 and into thecavity130, while theend160 of theinner conduit98 is offset further downstream from theend146 of theouter conduit142.
• In some embodiments of thesystem12 shown inFIGS. 8 and 9, thecavity130 may be drained of bodily fluids (e.g., urine, blood, etc.) through one or more drainage conduits, such as the inner conduit98 (e.g., via opening130), theouter conduit42, or another drainage conduit. Subsequently, the drainage conduit (e.g., opening110 in the inner conduit98) may be closed via a valve or the drainage conduit may remain open. In certain embodiments, theinner conduit98 may be configured to hold and/or flow a conductive fluid (e.g., liquid, gel such as hydrogel, and/or gas), while the outer conduit142 (e.g., in passage144) may be configured as a dielectric (e.g., either empty or filled with a dielectric material). Alternatively, the outer conduit142 (e.g., in passage144) may be configured to hold and/or flow a conductive fluid (e.g., liquid, gel such as hydrogel, and/or gas), while theinner conduit98 may be configured as a dielectric (e.g., either empty or filled with a dielectric material). For example, embodiments using one of the conduits (e.g.,98 or142) as a dielectric may fill the conduit with a dielectric material (e.g., liquid, gas, and/or solid), or the conduit may be empty of one or more of liquids, gases, and/or solids (e.g., vacuum void of matter or substantially void of matter). In some embodiments, thesystem12 may include 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more additional conduits extending along theconduits98 and142 in a side by side configuration, one about another in a coaxial or concentric configuration, or a combination thereof. The various conduits may be used for fluid injection, fluid drainage, dielectric materials, conductive fluids, monitoring via cameras, sensors, or probes, or any combination thereof.
• As explained above with reference toFIG. 7, as the electrical charge builds up and crosses through thegas containing gap56 between theouter conduit142 and thepassageway132, the internalcold plasma applicator14 forms cold plasma in thepassageway132. In applications with theconductive fluid134 drained from thecavity130, the cold plasma may form primarily within the passageway132 (e.g., in the embodiment ofFIG. 8), although the cold plasma also may form partially, substantially, or completely inside of thecavity130. Accordingly, the cold plasma treatment may be focused primarily on thepassageway132 rather than thecavity130 in some embodiments. In some embodiments, theinflatable portion108 may be filled with conductive fluid (e.g., liquid, gel such as hydrogel, and/or gas) such that cold plasma can also form around the inflatable portion108 (e.g., using the drainedcavity130 as dielectric), enabling cold plasma treatment of at least a portion of thecavity130 of thepatient10. However, the internalcold plasma applicator14 may be configured to selectively provide cold plasma treatment of any specific area of interest in thepassageway132, thecavity130, or a combination thereof.
• While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and have been described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.

Claims (20)

1. A system comprising:

an internal cold plasma system, comprising:

an internal cold plasma applicator configured to couple to a surface surrounding a cavity and to produce a cold plasma between the internal cold plasma applicator and the surface.

2. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the internal cold plasma applicator comprises a first conduit having a first passage.

3. The system ofclaim 2, wherein the internal cold plasma applicator comprises a second conduit having a second passage.

4. The system ofclaim 3, wherein the first passage is configured to carry a conductive fluid and the second passage is configured to function as a dielectric by carrying a dielectric material or being empty.

5. The system ofclaim 4, wherein the second conduit surrounds the first conduit, and the second passage is disposed between the first and second conduits.

6. The system ofclaim 4, wherein the first conduit surrounds the second conduit, and the first passage is disposed between the first and second conduits.

7. The system ofclaim 4, wherein an electrode rests within the first passage.

8. The system ofclaim 2, wherein the first conduit comprises a tapered end that facilitates insertion into the cavity.

9. The system ofclaim 2, comprising a plurality of spacers configured to separate a cold plasma-generating surface of the first conduit from the surface surrounding the cavity.

10. The system ofclaim 1, comprising a controller configured to produce an electrical signal that forms cold plasma with the internal cold plasma applicator.

11. The system ofclaim 2, wherein the first conduit comprises an inflatable portion, wherein the inflatable portion is configured to block retraction and enable secure placement of the internal cold plasma applicator after insertion into the cavity.

12. The system ofclaim 2, wherein the first conduit comprises an opening configured to drain or inject a conductive fluid, and wherein the internal cold plasma applicator is configured to use the conductive fluid to carry an electrical signal that generates cold plasma.

13. A system comprising:

an internal cold plasma system, comprising:

an internal cold plasma applicator configured to couple to a surface surrounding a cavity and to produce a cold plasma between the internal cold plasma applicator and the surface; and

a controller coupled to the internal cold plasma applicator and configured to produce an electrical signal that forms the cold plasma with the internal cold plasma applicator.

14. The system ofclaim 13, wherein the internal cold plasma applicator comprises a conduit.

15. The system ofclaim 14, wherein the internal cold plasma applicator comprises an inflatable portion coupled to the conduit, and wherein the inflatable portion is configured to block retraction and enable secure placement of the internal cold plasma applicator.

16. The system ofclaim 14, wherein the conduit is filled with a conductive fluid.

17. The system ofclaim 14, wherein the conduit is configured to receive a gas.

18. The system ofclaim 14, wherein the internal cold plasma applicator comprises a plurality of spacers configured to separate a cold plasma-generating surface on the conduit from the surface surrounding the cavity.

19. A method comprising:

producing an electrical signal with a controller; and

generating a cold plasma using the electrical signal with an internal cold plasma applicator configured to couple to a surface surrounding a cavity.

20. The system ofclaim 19, comprising pumping a gas from a gas source to the internal cold plasma applicator.

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