Dustin Borg, MEDustin Borg, ME

Patrick Henley, BMEPatrick Henley, BME

Ali Husain, BMEAli Husain, BME

Nick Stroeher, BMENick Stroeher, BME

Advisor: Dr. Paul KingAdvisor: Dr. Paul King

Our Dutch Team Our Dutch Team MembersMembers

Willem-Jan van Harskamp, Willem-Jan van Harskamp, Applied PhysicsApplied Physics

Vivian Roode, BMEVivian Roode, BME

Gijs Snieders, BMEGijs Snieders, BME

M. van Vlimmeren, BMEM. van Vlimmeren, BME

Advisor: Dr. Eva Advisor: Dr. Eva AdamowiczAdamowicz

RelevanceRelevance Dental applications:Dental applications:

– Clean cavitiesClean cavities– Less painfulLess painful– Treat irregular surfacesTreat irregular surfaces

Skin treatmentSkin treatment– healing of various lesions and ulcers of healing of various lesions and ulcers of

skin, intestines and larynx skin, intestines and larynx

Current Level of Current Level of Development of Plasma Development of Plasma Needle TechnologyNeedle Technology Evaluation of the electrical Evaluation of the electrical

characteristics of the plasma characteristics of the plasma needleneedle

Sensing the gap width by Sensing the gap width by monitoring the discharge power monitoring the discharge power consumptionconsumption

Control of the gap width with Control of the gap width with robotic actuationrobotic actuation

What We Will What We Will ContributeContributeEindhoven Eindhoven

Students:Students: Correct gap width Correct gap width

by implementing by implementing electro-electro-mechanical mechanical actuators and actuators and control algorithmscontrol algorithms

Vanderbilt Students:Vanderbilt Students: Design a plasma Design a plasma

needle catheter needle catheter that will be better that will be better suited for medical suited for medical use than the use than the existing prototypeexisting prototype

Possibly testing on Possibly testing on cell culturescell cultures

Our Progress So FarOur Progress So Far

ResearchResearch Literature from EindhovenLiterature from Eindhoven

CoordinationCoordination Overseas communication issuesOverseas communication issues NetMeetingNetMeeting

What is Plasma?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 molecules

The 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 Composition of the NeedleNeedle

____

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 Plasma Needle

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

Current Known EffectsCurrent Known EffectsMain effect is the dissolution of tissue Main effect is the dissolution of tissue

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

Destruction of CAM Destruction of CAM proliferation of proliferation of free radicalsfree radicals (O, OH) (O, OH)

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

Gas Plasma CatheterGas Plasma CatheterBasic DefinitionBasic Definition

– Plastic tube confining thin wire containing Plastic tube confining thin wire containing plasma electrode for insertion into the body plasma electrode for insertion into the body (bloodstream, lungs, etc.). (bloodstream, lungs, etc.).

General Design GoalsGeneral Design Goals BiocompatibleBiocompatible ThinThin FlexibleFlexible Capable of separating gas from tissue and fluidsCapable of separating gas from tissue and fluids

– Porous MembranePorous Membrane1.1. Maintain plasma operation under “closed”conditionsMaintain plasma operation under “closed”conditions2.2. Permit sufficient active plasma particles to escape Permit sufficient active plasma particles to escape

through membranethrough membrane

Immediate GoalsImmediate Goals(through end of semester)(through end of semester)

1.1. Construction of plasma needle prototypeConstruction of plasma needle prototype Acquire current schematics Acquire current schematics Arrange for financingArrange for financing Identify and select manufacturing contactIdentify and select manufacturing contact

2.2. Focused research efforts Focused research efforts CatheterCatheter

MaterialsMaterials SpecificationsSpecifications Selectively Porous MembranesSelectively Porous Membranes

3.3. Solidify CoordinationSolidify Coordination Maintain contact with our counterpartsMaintain contact with our counterparts Expand and improve lines of communicationExpand and improve lines of communication

TimelineTimeline

DecemberDecember

JanuaryJanuary

FebruaryFebruary

MarchMarch

AprilApril

Catheter Research

Construction of Functioning Plasma Needle Setup

Material Selection and Design of CatheterCatheter ConstructionPhysical Testing of Plasma Needle Catheter CombinationTherapeutic Testing on Tissue Cultures