Dustin Borg, MEPatrick Henley, BMEAli Husain, BMENick Stroeher, BME

Advisor: Dr. Paul King

Our Dutch Team MembersWillem-Jan van Harskamp, Applied PhysicsVivian Roode, BMEGijs Snieders, BMEM. van Vlimmeren, BME

Advisor: Dr. Eva Adamowicz

RelevanceDental applications:Clean cavitiesLess painfulTreat irregular surfaces

Skin treatmenthealing of various lesions and ulcers of skin, intestines and larynx

Current Level of Development of Plasma Needle TechnologyEvaluation of the electrical characteristics of the plasma needleSensing the gap width by monitoring the discharge power consumptionControl of the gap width with robotic actuation

What We Will ContributeEindhoven Students:Correct gap width by implementing electro-mechanical actuators and control algorithms

Vanderbilt Students:Design a plasma needle catheter that will be better suited for medical use than the existing prototypePossibly testing on cell cultures

Our Progress So FarResearchLiterature from Eindhoven

CoordinationOverseas communication issuesNetMeeting

What is Plasma?Plasma is a state of matter with enough free charged particles so that its dynamics are heavily influenced by electromagnetic forces. gaseous fluid-like mixture of ions, free electrons,radicals and excited atoms and moleculesThe Plasma Needle uses Low-Temperature Plasma (LTP) small fraction of neutral particles in gas are ionized electrons are high energy; ions are ambient temp. retains neutral charge

http://solar.physics.montana.edu/martens/plasma/

Composition of the Needle

____The AC source produces Radio Frequent (RF) discharges on the order of 1-100 MHz____This design uses Capacitively Coupled Plasma to create E field from voltage difference____In the middle is a metal wire with a sharp point electrode for the E field____The coaxial metal tube is grounded Helium gas is moved into space between____Wire is insulated so that plasma is generated only at tip; it appears like a ball 1 mm in diameter____The Development of a Smart-Scanning Probe for the Plasma Needle, Ewout van der Laan

The Plasma NeedleThe Development of a Smart-Scanning Probe for the Plasma Needle, Ewout van der Laan

Current Known EffectsMain effect is the dissolution of tissue

Most likely Plasma Needle damages CAM proteins and causes breakup of tissue without accidentally killing cells

Destruction of CAM proliferation of free radicals (O, OH)The Development of a Smart-Scanning Probe for the Plasma Needle, Ewout van der Laan

Gas Plasma CatheterBasic DefinitionPlastic tube confining thin wire containing plasma electrode for insertion into the body (bloodstream, lungs, etc.). General Design GoalsBiocompatibleThinFlexibleCapable of separating gas from tissue and fluidsPorous MembraneMaintain plasma operation under closedconditionsPermit sufficient active plasma particles to escape through membrane

Immediate Goals(through end of semester)Construction of plasma needle prototypeAcquire current schematics Arrange for financingIdentify and select manufacturing contactFocused research efforts CatheterMaterialsSpecificationsSelectively Porous MembranesSolidify CoordinationMaintain contact with our counterpartsExpand and improve lines of communication

TimelineDecember

January

February

March

April

Catheter ResearchConstruction of Functioning Plasma Needle SetupMaterial Selection and Design of CatheterCatheter ConstructionPhysical Testing of Plasma Needle Catheter CombinationTherapeutic Testing on Tissue Cultures