Patent ID: 6821379
Filing Date: 2004-11-23
Classification: A61L,H01J,H05H

Abstract:
An atmospheric-pressure, plasma generating apparatus for treating a surface of a workpiece, said apparatus comprising:a plurality of powerable electrodes connectable to one or more power supplies and powerable thereby; at least one groundable electrode connectable to a ground, a plurality of dielectrics, wherein a dielectric of said plurality is associated with each said powerable electrode, each said dielectric being intermediate said powerable electrode and said at least one groundable electrode wherein each said dielectric contacts said powerable electrode; a first plurality of said powerable electrodes and said at least one groundable electrode being disposed in pairs, each of said pairs generating a plasma zone and operatively associated with a second plurality of flow channels, wherein said plurality of electrodes disposed in said flow channels comprises elongated electrodes disposed in elongate flow channels, whereby a plasma gas can flow through said flow channels and thereby produce a plasma therein upon interaction with said powerable electrode when powered, said plasma being capable of interacting with a working gas to thereby produce excited species, and a third plurality of outlets from said flow channels, said outlets being juxtaposable with a workpiece whereby the excited species may flow from interaction with said plasma through said outlets to impinge on the surface of the workpiece, said flow of said excited species being in a primary direction which is straight and unobstructed from said plasma to said surface of said workpiece.