Patent ID: 8802022

Claim:
A sterilization device comprising: a hand-held, flexible applicator configured to adjust to contoured surfaces, the applicator having an input coupled to a gas source, the applicator having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first surface configured to be placed adjacent to a surface of tissue to be sterilized; a first plurality of output channels, each output channel having an individual wire electrode with a sharp conductive point disposed therein; and a resistor network coupled to the individual wire electrodes, the resistor network further coupled to a power source for supplying the same electrical potential to each of the individual wire electrodes, wherein each individual wire electrode is coupled to the resistor network such that each individual wire electrode extends from the resistor network into the first plurality of output channels; wherein when each of the individual wire electrodes are powered by the power source with the same electrical potential and gas is flowing through the plurality of output channels, each sharp conductive point of the individual wire electrode creates an electric field gradient which removes electrons from molecules of the gas and ionizes the gas to form a cold plasma beam at each of the plurality of output channels under atmospheric pressure so as to sterilize the tissue in contact with the cold plasma beams.