Antimicrobial treatment of heat sensitive materials by means of atmospheric pressure rf-driven plasma jet

Since several years a number of activities on the field of antimicrobial treatment by using non-thermal plasmas are known. But although there are quite a few plasma based processes commercially available, the complexity of interaction between plasma and micro organisms prevents the breakthrough of this technology up to now. Thus plasma generation and treatment method needs to be adapted for each individual application. The aim of this work is to demonstrate the industrial applicability of plasma technological processes for medical devices. Therefore a non-thermal plasma jet operated in argon at atmospheric pressure and driven by radio frequency (27.12 MHz) is applied to antimicrobial treatment of samples made of heat sensitive materials, such as used in medical devices. Due to its compact design and low power consumption, typical 10 W to 60 W, it is predestined for modularisation. Therefore it can be adapted to nearly any geometry such as given by medical devices to be treated. The plasma is characterised by UV/VIS optical emission spectroscopy. In order to analyse the effect of the plasma on the micro organisms (Bacillus atrophaeus spores and Escherichia coli vegetative bacteria) microbiological tests are performed. First results on lethal effects of the plasma treamtent will be discussed.