Innovative Plasma Generation in Flexible Biopsy Channels for Inner-Tube Decontamination and Medical Applications

An innovative device capable of generating a cold atmospheric pressure plasma inside a 5?m long flexible tube with 2?mm inner diameter is presented. In order to analyze the inner-tube plasma, optical emission spectroscopy in the (vacuum) ultraviolet spectral range and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy were performed. By admixing small concentrations of nitrogen and oxygen to the standard argon gas flow rate of 1.5?slm, a drastically change in the plasma composition was observed. Additionally, it is possible to form a jet-like plasma at the end of the tube. The microbicidal efficacy of the inner-tube plasma and the jet-like plasma was shown for Bacillus atrophaeus spores.