| dc.description.abstract | This research explored the design and feasibility of a robotic plasma medicine device intended for cancer treatment inside of the human body, potentially enabling the delivery of cold atmospheric plasma in a safe, controllable, and minimally invasive manner. A dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma jet was generated using a device consisting of two ring electrodes, a borosilicate glass tube, epoxy insulation, and a grounded outer shield. For the feasibility study, three different plasma jet devices with insulation thicknesses of 3.5 mm, 4.5 mm. and 5.5 mm, corresponding to outer device diameters of 16 mm, 18 mm, and 20 mm were manufactured and investigated. The electrical and thermal safety of devices was evaluated under high voltage operating conditions following a standardized Test to Breakdown, Step-by-Step method and measuring the device outer surface temperature using a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) optical sensor. Breakdown voltage increased with insulation thickness, and all devices tested failed above 11 kV.
The rate of device temperature increase decreased with an increase in insulation thickness. However, the tested devices would only be safe to generate plasma in vivo for approximately a minute or less, depending on insulation thickness and voltage. Consistent manufacturing, along with eliminating any air voids in insulation is critical to device safety. A full-scale, functional robotic plasma jet device (3.5 mm insulation thickness, 16 mm outer diameter) with a robotic interface compatible with the current dA Vinci robotic surgical system was also designed and manufactured. It was demonstrated that a plasma plume is capable of being successfully delivered through a dynamically moving, steerable distal tip that is operated by a robotic system. | |
