Patent ID: 6475215
Filing Date: 2002-11-05
Classification: A61B,H05H

Abstract:
A surgical apparatus adapted to emit a plurality of high-energy inert gas atoms in a stream, the apparatus comprising:an inert gas source; a plasma cell in communication with said inert gas source for imparting energy to said inert gas atoms, to create energized inert gas atoms, said plasma cell defined in part by a positive electrode and a negative electrode; at least one power supply electrically connected to said negative and positive electrodes, said at least one power supply adapted to provide (a) initially an ionization voltage between said negative and positive electrodes to initiate a plasma from said inert gas in said plasma cell, and (b) subsequently a pulsed voltage curve that sustains the plasma at a predetermined energy level; and means for directing the energized inert gas atoms at a target.