Patent Publication Number: US-10779389-B1

Title: Hand-type low temperature microwave plasma generator

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0007107 (filed on Jan. 20, 2020). 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a hand-type low temperature microwave plasma generator, and more particularly, to a hand-type low temperature microwave plasma generator that is configured to implement plasma even in a low power state, and be easily applied to various small devices using microwave plasma including medical treatment and the like of wound treatment or cell treatment. 
     Related Art 
     Plasma has been widely used in surface treatment and the like of semiconductors, display devices, and various parts, and its application has been expanded to become a convergent technology used in biotechnology research, medical care, air cleaning, incinerators, etc. 
     In other words, in general, a plasma generator is a device that separates gas molecules into cations and electrons between two electrodes when a high frequency or a high voltage is supplied to both electrodes, in which the two electrodes are installed in a vacuum state or in the air. Such plasma generator is applied to semiconductor, PCB, new material synthesis, polymer surface treatment, metal surface treatment, environmental purification, medical device, food sterilization and disinfection technology, etc., and its applications are expanding. 
     In particular, the plasma generator is expanding into medical fields such as teeth whitening, cancer cell death, and blood coagulation rate promotion. Lasers, which are mainly used in the related art, have the disadvantage of causing burns due to thermal damage and incapable of treating a large area due to a small laser radius. However, plasma has the advantages of no heat damage and uniformly and efficiently treating large treatment area by a plasma generator. 
     Ultraviolet (UV), oxygen radicals such as ozone, nitrogen oxides such as nitrogen monoxide, electric current and charged particles, which are generated in plasma, have each been reported to provide effects of increased cellular immunity, sterilization, cancer cell necrosis, and increased blood circulation. 
     As such, the plasma generator used for medical purposes requires stability because the plasma is directly irradiated to the human body. 
     For example, it is necessary to prevent an electric shock incident caused by leakage of a high voltage applied to generate a plasma. It is necessary to prevent damage to the human body by easily controlling plasma dosage, or easily control plasma emission to be used for surgery by increasing the plasma dosage to burn the necessary tissues. 
     In order for the user to easily handle the plasma generator, convenience and miniaturization of the plasma generator is required. In particular, miniaturization and easy control of the plasma emission are essential for applying the plasma generator to an endoscope. 
     However, in the case of the conventional plasma generator, insulation can be difficult because high voltage is required to generate plasma, and when a dielectric is a polymer containing fluorine or chlorine, serious side effects may be due to fluorine and chlorine generated during plasma generation. 
     In addition, there is a problem that the initiation of the initial discharge is very difficult to implement the plasma at low power for medical wound treatment and cell treatment 
     RELATED ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     (Patent Document 0001) Korea Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2019-0035052 (published on Apr. 3, 2019) 
     (Patent Document 0002) Korean Patent No. 10-1740821 (Published on May 26, 2017) 
     (Patent Document 0003) Korean Patent No. 10-1940012 (Published on Jan. 18, 2019) 
     (Patent Document 0004) Korean Patent No. 10-1189481 (Published on Oct. 15, 2012) 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention provides a hand-type low temperature microwave plasma generator that is configured to implement plasma even in a low power state, and be easily applied to various small devices using microwave plasma including medical treatment and the like of wound treatment or cell treatment. 
     The effects of the present disclosure are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. 
     In an aspect, a hand-type low temperature microwave plasma generator includes: a handpiece housing configured to have opened upper and lower portions and a predetermined cross-sectional shape; a microwave electrode tip configured to be connected to a microwave generator (M/G) and provided at an inner lower portion of the handpiece housing; a gas distribution member configured to be provided around the microwave electrode tip and supply externally provided plasma gas around the microwave electrode tip; a mounting housing configured to accommodate a lower portion of the handpiece housing and have a mounting hole on which the handpiece housing is mounted; and an ignition module configured to apply a high voltage pulse electric field to a lower portion of the microwave electrode tip in a state in which the handpiece housing is mounted on the mounting housing to initiate an initial plasma discharge. 
     The gas distribution member may include: a ring-shaped body part configured to be provided around the microwave electrode tip and have a cross-sectional ring shape formed as an insulator; and a plurality of gas distribution holes configured to be formed in the body part at intervals and formed to penetrate through the microwave electrode tip in parallel. 
     The mounting housing may be provided with a mounting hole on which the handpiece housing is mounted and may be formed in an enclosure shape in which the lower portion of the handpiece housing is accommodated through the mounting hole. 
     One of the handpiece housing and the mounting hole may be provided with one or more mounting protrusions, and the other of the handpiece housing and the mounting hole may be provided with a mounting groove where the mounting protrusion is seated. 
     The ignition module may include: a high voltage generator configured to be provided in the mounting housing to generate a high voltage; and a high voltage electrode tip configured to be provided on one side of the high voltage generator, provided to be opposite to the microwave electrode tip mounted on the mounting housing, and receive an electrical signal of the high voltage generator to emit a high voltage pulse electric field. 
     The hand-type low temperature microwave plasma generator may further include: an opposite position detection module configured to detect an opposite position of the high voltage electrode tip to the microwave electrode tip in a state in which the handpiece housing is mounted on the mounting housing. 
     The opposite position detection module may include: a detection unit configured to be provided on one side of the mounting housing; and a display unit configured to display a result detected by the detection unit. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a conceptual diagram schematically showing blocks of components in order to explain a configuration of a hand-type low temperature microwave plasma generator according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the hand-type low temperature microwave plasma generator according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a longitudinal sectional view of  FIG. 2  as a sectional view of an embodiment of a hand-type low temperature microwave plasma generator according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of a gas distribution member constituting the hand-type low temperature microwave plasma generator according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a rear view of a mounting housing constituting the hand-type low temperature microwave plasma generator according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention may be more clearly understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
     Prior to the detailed description of the present invention, the present invention may be variously modified, and may have various embodiments, and the examples described below and illustrated in the drawings are intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, and it is to be understood that all changes, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention are included. 
     It is to be understood that when one element is referred to as being “connected to” or “coupled to” another element, it may be connected directly to or coupled directly to another element or be connected to or coupled to another element, having the other element intervening therebetween. On the other hand, it should be understood that when one element is referred to as being “connected directly to” or “coupled directly to” another element, it may be connected to or coupled to another element without the other element interposed therebetween. 
     Terms used in the present specification are used only in order to describe specific exemplary embodiments rather than limiting the present invention. Singular forms are intended to include plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should be further understood that terms “include” or “have” used in the present specification specify the presence of features, numerals, steps, operations, components, parts mentioned in the present specification, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numerals, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof. 
     A term “-er/or”, “unit”, “module”, “block” or the like, described in the specification means a processing unit of at least one function or operation and may be implemented by hardware or software or a combination of hardware and software. 
     In addition, in the description with reference to the accompanying drawings, regardless of reference numerals, the same components will be given the same reference numerals and duplicate description thereof will be omitted. When it is decided that the detailed description of the known art related to the present invention may unnecessary obscure the gist of the present invention, a detailed description therefor will be omitted. 
     In addition, throughout this specification, when a step is located “on” or “before” with another step, not only the case in which a step is in direct time series relationship with another step, but also the case in which like a mixing step after each step, a step is in direct time series relationship in which a time series order in two steps may be reversed include the same rights. 
     Hereinafter, a hand-type low temperature microwave plasma generator according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a conceptual diagram schematically showing blocks of components in order to explain a configuration of a hand-type low temperature microwave plasma generator according to the present invention,  FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the hand-type low temperature microwave plasma generator according to the present invention, and  FIG. 3  is a longitudinal sectional view of  FIG. 2  as a sectional view of an embodiment of a hand-type low temperature microwave plasma generator according to the present invention.  FIG. 4  is a plan view of a gas distribution member constituting the hand-type low temperature microwave plasma generator according to the present invention and  FIG. 5  is a rear view of a mounting housing constituting the hand-type low temperature microwave plasma generator according to the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 5 , a hand-type low temperature microwave plasma generator according to the present invention is configured to largely include: a handpiece housing  100 ; a microwave electrode tip  200 ; gas distribution member  300 ; a mounting housing  400 ; and an ignition module  500 . 
     Specifically, as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 5 , the hand-type low temperature microwave plasma generator according to the present invention includes: a handpiece housing  100  configured to have opened upper and lower portions and a predetermined cross-sectional shape; a microwave electrode tip  200  configured to be connected to a microwave generator (M/G) and provided at an inner lower portion of the handpiece housing  100 ; a gas distribution member  300  configured to be provided around the microwave electrode tip  200  and supply externally provided plasma gas around the microwave electrode tip  200 ; a mounting housing  400  configured to accommodate a lower portion of the handpiece housing  100 , have a mounting hole  410  where the handpiece housing  100  is detached and seated, and have the handpiece housing  100  mounted thereon; and an ignition module  500  configured to be provided within the mounting housing  400  and apply a high voltage pulse electric field to a lower portion of the microwave electrode tip  200  to initiate an initial plasma discharge. 
     More specifically, the handpiece housing  100  is formed to be able to be gripped by a user, and has a shape in which the microwave electrode tip  200  and the gas distribution member  300  can be accommodated therein. 
     The handpiece housing  100  is configured to be grounded. 
     In addition, the handpiece housing  100  is configured so that the microwave electrode tip  200  is connected to the microwave generator (M/G) to guide a connection line  210  for providing an electrical signal of the microwave generator, and supplies gas to the gas distribution member  300 . 
     In the implementation example illustrated in the drawings, the connection line  210  may be guided through a connector  110  configured at an upper end of the handpiece housing  100 , and gas may be provided. 
     This handpiece housing  100  functions as a microwave plasma discharge port whose lower opening generates microwave plasma. 
     Next, the microwave electrode tip  200  has a lower end portion formed in a pointed end shape and is provided with the gas distribution member  300  to be described in detail below the lower portion. 
     In other words, the microwave electrode tip  200  may be formed as the known microwave electrode tip, but in the present invention, the lower portion of the microwave electrode tip  200  will be accommodated and mounted in the gas distribution member  300  to be described below. 
     Subsequently, the gas distribution member  300  is configured to distribute and supply plasma gas around the microwave electrode tip  200 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the gas distribution member may be configured to include a ring-shaped body part  310  that is provided around the microwave electrode tip  200  and has a cross-sectional ring shape formed as an insulator, and a plurality of gas distribution holes  320  that are formed in the body part  310 , formed to penetrate through the microwave electrode tip  200  in parallel, and formed at intervals. 
     The ring-shaped body part  310  may be formed in the shape of a polygonal ring including a rectangular ring and the like as well as an annular ring shape. 
     When the electrical signal generated from the microwave generator (M/G) is applied to the microwave electrode tip  200 , the gas distribution member  300  may effectively supply gas to the lower end portion of the microwave electrode tip  200  to implement plasma in a low power state and implement a role of an insulator for the microwave electrode tip  200 . 
     Here, the handpiece housing  100  of the present invention may be provided with a controller (control means) that can control the amount of plasma gas discharged through the gas distribution member  300 . 
     Next, the mounting housing  400  has a mounting hole  410  that accommodates the lower portion of the handpiece housing  100  and causes the handpiece housing  100  to be stably mounted, and is formed in an enclosure shape. 
     For example, the mounting hole  410  of the mounting housing  400  has a side that is formed in a shape corresponding to the outer surface of the handpiece housing  100  and may include a penetrating portion whose bottom is opened or a dome-shaped seating portion of the bottom opening. 
     In addition, one or more mounting protrusions are formed on a portion of an outer surface of the handpiece housing  100  so that the handpiece housing  100  can be stably mounted and held on the mounting hole  410  of the mounting housing  400 , and a mounting groove where the mounting protrusion is seated may be formed on a wall surface of the mounting hole  410 . 
     The mounting protrusion and the mounting groove may be formed in reverse. That is, one or more mounting grooves are formed on a portion of the outer surface of the handpiece housing  100  so that the handpiece housing  100  can be stably mounted and held on the mounting hole  410  of the mounting housing  400 , and the mounting protrusion which is seated on the mounting groove may be formed on the wall surface of the mounting hole  410 . 
     The mounting housing  400  has the ignition module  500  accommodated therein. 
     Next, the ignition module  500  is provided in the mounting housing  400 , and is configured to apply a high voltage pulse electric field to the lower portion of the microwave electrode tip  200  to initiate an initial plasma discharge. 
     Specifically, the ignition module  500  is configured to include a high voltage generator  510  that is provided on one side of the mounting housing  400  to generate a high voltage, and a high voltage electrode tip  520  that is provided on one side of the high voltage generator  510 , and provided to face the microwave electrode tip  200  mounted on the mounting housing  400 , and receives an electrical signal of the high voltage generator  510  to emit a high voltage pulse electric field. 
     Here, as shown in the drawing, when the lower end portion of the handpiece housing  100  is formed to further extend below the microwave electrode tip  200 , the handpiece housing  100  may be mounted on the mounting housing  400  so that a portion of the high voltage electrode tip  520  is inserted into the lower opening of the housing  100 . 
     On the other hand, the hand-type low temperature microwave plasma generator according to the present invention may further include an opposite position detection module that detects the opposite position of the microwave electrode tip  200  to the high voltage electrode tip  520  in the state in which the handpiece housing  100  is mounted on the mounting housing  400 , that is, the correct opposite position of the microwave electrode  200  to the high voltage electrode tip  520 . 
     The opposite position detection module may be configured to include a detection unit such as an optical sensor that is provided on one side of the mounting housing  400  and a display unit (for example, red and green LEDs) that is provided on the other side of the mounting housing  400  to display results detected by the detection unit. 
     The opposite position detection module is configured to detect the mounting position of the handpiece housing  100  through the detection unit, and cause a user to recognize whether the handpiece housing  100  is mounted at the correct position through a light emitting color and the like on the display unit. 
     Accordingly, the user can operate the hand-type low temperature microwave plasma generator in the state in which the user can easily recognize whether the handpiece housing  100  is mounted at the correct position before generating an electric signal in the high voltage generator  510 , that is, before applying the high voltage pulse electric field. 
     When the handpiece housing  100  including the microwave electrode tip  200  is mounted on the mounting hole  410  of the mounting housing  400 , the ignition module  500  is configured to initiate the initial plasma discharge at the portion of the microwave electrode tip  200  by being applied with the high voltage pulse electric field from the high voltage electrode tip  520  as the electric signal of the high voltage generator  510  in the state in which the high voltage electrode tip  520  of the ignition module  500  is positioned opposite to the microwave electrode tip  200 . 
     Accordingly, the present invention solves the difficulty of initiating the initial discharge by causing the ignition module  500  to implement plasma at low power. 
     The hand-type microwave plasma generator according to the present invention as described above can implement the plasma in the low power state at the electrode tip of the microwave generator to eliminate the need for high voltage applied to generate plasma so as to secure the stability, implement the plasma even in the low power state to be easily applied to various devices such as medical treatment devices for wound treatment or cell treatment, and promote the ease of use and miniaturization by being implemented at low power. 
     Although the embodiments as described above are described by a limited drawing, those skilled in the art may apply various technical modifications and variations based on the above. For example, even though the described techniques may be performed in a different order than the described method, and/or components of the described systems, structures, devices, circuits, etc. may be combined or combined in a different manner than the described method, or replaced or substituted by other components, appropriate results can be achieved. 
     The embodiments and the accompanying drawings described herein are merely illustrative of some of the technical ideas included in the present invention. Therefore, since the embodiments disclosed in the present specification are not intended to limit the technical spirit of the present invention but to describe the present invention, it is obvious that the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. Modifications and specific embodiments that can be easily inferred by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technical spirit included in the specification and drawings of the present invention should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention. 
     According to the hand-type low temperature microwave plasma generator according to the present invention provides the following effects. 
     First, the present invention can implement the plasma in the low power state at the electrode tip of the microwave generator to eliminate the need for a high voltage applied to generate the plasma so as to secure the stability. 
     Second, the present invention can implement the plasma even in the low power state to be easily applied to various devices such as medical treatment devices for wound treatment or cell treatment. 
     Third, the present invention can promote the ease of use and miniaturization by being implemented at a low power. 
     The effects of the present disclosure are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.