Study the search for light - the tiny 'lightsaber' that humans can use in the medical field

This promises to open a new era in the health industry.

In the future, human wounds can be cured with a tiny "lightsaber", which sounds unbelievable, but this is the new plasma technology being studied.

If this interesting research project is successful, we can commercialize jet-cold plasma atmospheric pressure plasma jets (APPJ) , which can be used in normal environments. , promises a new era in health.

In the future, human wounds can be cured with a tiny "lightsaber".

Plasma is an ionizing state so the composition of the plasma always contains electrically charged particles of ions and free electrons, making the plasma very conductive. Besides charged particles, it is a high-energy plasma state that still glows, containing free radicals and active ingredients. These components, when exposed to environmental changes, create many applications of plasma.

Cold plasma is plasma at room temperature, so it can directly affect open wounds that change the wound environment to help open wounds faster.

Engineers from China University of Science and Electronics Technology have found a way to release a stream of ion generated by microwaves and make it expand far enough to touch nearby surfaces. Engineers can combine many small APPJs to ionize the surface of the material. Doctors can also use them to disinfect wounds, clean teeth and even help blood clots.

'With the development of low-temperature plasma jet, plasma applications in the biomedical field will be expanded, not only as a surgical knife but also for skin treatment, sterilization and cancer treatment. " , engineer Wenjie Fu said.

Only a small problem. Until now, these jet plasmas have an uncomfortable limit - to stabilize them, you'll need a polarizer made of quartz-like material .

This will be like wrapping a lightsaber in a clear plastic tube to keep it: not completely practical and no one wants to do it.

A tiny "lightsaber" like this may be in the hands of a doctor in the near future.

To eliminate such a container without increasing the plasma jet's temperature, the researchers removed the microwave conductor that other devices used to create plasma and instead used coaxial cable structure.

Combined with the distance between the elements, they can increase the microwave electric field density without additional energy.

Some important adjustments at the end of this coaxial transmission system also allow them to guide the surrounding air and plasma down to the center, allowing them to remove the quartz tube and still adjust the properties of the gas.

As a result, a directed plasma can kill bacteria and coagulate, and cool enough to touch; Or it can be enhanced for burning meat (for surgical purposes).

This medical technology is only at the beginning of a long journey, but with evidence of what can be done, such a tiny "lightsaber" could be in the hands of doctors in the near future.

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