Abstract: A method for pre-treating a catheter prior to using the catheter in a medical procedure, and a related apparatus, are provided. The method comprises exposing, in a plasma chamber positioned in a medical care center, and under sterile conditions, intraluminal surfaces and extraluminal surfaces of the catheter to plasma. The plasma is electromagnetically-generated adjacently to the intraluminal surfaces and extraluminal surfaces, thereby rendering, at least temporarily, the intraluminal surfaces and extraluminal surfaces of the catheter hydrophilic.

Abstract: Device and method suitable for disinfecting herbs in small quantities, e.g. for home use, using plasma, are disclosed. The device comprises a sealable vessel dimensioned and configured to contain herbs in chunks, in granular form such as particles or in powder, in a treatment region of the sealable vessel. The device further comprises a power source configured to generate electromagnetic (EM) power sufficient for plasma generation in a plasma generation region of the sealable vessel. The sealable vessel is optionally detachable from the device. A portable sealable vessel configured to store and transport herbs, the herbs being microbially sealed therein, is also disclosed. The portable sealable vessel may be positioned in a slot of the device so as to generate plasma in the portable sealable vessel and disinfect the herbs. A multi-slot device is also disclosed, enabling plasma disinfection of herbs in a multitude of distinct sealable vessels.

Abstract: A method of operating a piezoelectric plasma generator including applying an input signal to a piezoelectric transformer of the piezoelectric plasma generator. An absolute value of a peak amplitude of the input signal is periodically reduced and increased to a level smaller and larger than an ignition voltage of the plasma generator, such that plasma generation periodically collapses.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for treating skin and/or nails with cold plasma. The system includes a discharge device, which includes a handle and an applicator mounted thereon, and control infrastructure, which includes a waveform generator. The applicator includes an elongated tube housing therein a cathode. The handle includes a flyback amplifier. The waveform generator is configured to induce the flyback amplifier to establish a voltage at the cathode. The voltage produced by the flyback amplifier is configured to allow generating a self-sustaining Townsend avalanche when a distal end of the tube is positioned sufficiently near a target site on a skin surface or a nail of a subject, such as to produce a cold plasma discharge directed at the target site and having an average power between about 0.1 ?W and about 10 ?W, so that the target site is not heated.

Abstract: An apparatus for plasma treatment of an implant prior to installing the implant in a live subject is provided. The apparatus comprises an activation device and a portable container detachable from the activation device. The portable container comprises a closed compartment containing the implant immersed in a fluid, and the activation device comprises a slot configured to receive the portable container. The activation device further comprises an electrical circuit configured to be electrically associated with at least one electrode and configured to provide to the at least one electrode electric power suitable for applying a plasma generating electric field in the closed compartment, when the portable container is disposed in the slot. A container suitable for providing plasma treatment to a silicone implant and a method for preparing an implant for implantation surgery are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for treating skin and/or nails with cold plasma. The system includes a discharge device, which includes a handle and an applicator mounted thereon, and control infrastructure, which includes a waveform generator. The applicator includes an elongated tube housing therein a cathode. The handle includes a flyback amplifier. The waveform generator is configured to induce the flyback amplifier to establish a voltage at the cathode. The voltage produced by the flyback amplifier is configured to generate a self-sustaining Townsend avalanche when a distal end of the tube is positioned sufficiently near a target site on a skin surface or a nail of a subject, such that a cold plasma discharge is produced and directed at the target site and having an average power between about 0.1 µW and about 10 µW, so that the target site is not heated.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a plasma above a treatment object. The apparatus includes a plasma-generating element such that during operation the plasma is generated by the plasma-generating element. The apparatus further includes a sealing element attached to the plasma-generating element. The sealing element has a cavity and is configured to form a closed volume with a part of the treatment object, so that at least a part of the cavity is part of the closed volume and, during operation of the apparatus, the plasma is generated in the closed volume. The sealing element includes a reception region that is configured so that a part of the treatment object can be inserted into the reception region. A method is also disclosed for performing a plasma treatment to a treatment object using the apparatus.

Abstract: A method of operating a piezoelectric plasma generator including applying an input signal to a piezoelectric transformer of the piezoelectric plasma generator. An absolute value of a peak amplitude of the input signal is periodically reduced and increased to a level smaller and larger than an ignition voltage of the plasma generator, such that plasma generation periodically collapses.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating an implant in a medical care center prior to using the implant in a medical procedure. The method comprises applying a plasma-generating electromagnetic (EM) field using at least one electrode so as to generate plasma in a vicinity of the implant while displacing the electrode and the implant relative to one another. A portable plasma module and a docking station configured to connect to the portable plasma module, thereby forming a plasma generating system, are also provided. A plasma generating apparatus for treating an implant prior to using the implant in a medical procedure is also provided.

Abstract: A portable container is provided for handling an implant. The container comprises a sealed compartment enclosing a fluid of a pre-defined composition and at least one implant configured to be installed in a live subject. The container may comprise at least one electrode made of an electrical conductive material, electrically associated with an electric conductor outside the sealed compartment and configured for applying a plasma generating electric field inside the sealed compartment. An apparatus for plasma treatment of an implant and having an activation device is further provided. The activation device comprises a slot configured to receive a portable container, and an electrical circuit configured to be electrically associated with at least one electrode. The electrical circuit is configured to provide to the at least one electrode electric power suitable for applying a plasma generating electric field in the sealed compartment, when the portable container is disposed in the slot.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for treating skin and/or nails with cold plasma. The system includes a discharge device, which includes a handle and an applicator mounted thereon, and control infrastructure, which includes a waveform generator. The applicator includes an elongated tube housing therein a cathode. The handle includes a flyback amplifier. The waveform generator is configured to induce the flyback amplifier to establish a voltage at the cathode. The voltage produced by the flyback amplifier is configured to allow generating a self-sustaining Townsend avalanche when a distal end of the tube is positioned sufficiently near a target site on a skin surface or a nail of a subject, such as to produce a cold plasma discharge directed at the target site and having an average power between about 0.1 ?W and about 10 ?W, so that the target site is not heated.

Abstract: An apparatus for plasma treatment of an implant prior to installing the implant in a live subject is provided. The apparatus comprises an activation device and a portable container detachable from the activation device. The portable container comprises a closed compartment containing the implant immersed in a fluid, and the activation device comprises a slot configured to receive the portable container. The activation device further comprises an electrical circuit configured to be electrically associated with at least one electrode and configured to provide to the at least one electrode electric power suitable for applying a plasma generating electric field in the closed compartment, when the portable container is disposed in the slot. A container suitable for providing plasma treatment to a silicone implant and a method for preparing an implant for implantation surgery are also provided.

Abstract: Device and method suitable for disinfecting herbs in small quantities, e.g. for home use, using plasma, are disclosed. The device comprises a sealable vessel dimensioned and configured to contain herbs in chunks, in granular form such as particles or in powder, in a treatment region of the sealable vessel. The device further comprises a power source configured to generate electromagnetic (EM) power sufficient for plasma generation in a plasma generation region of the sealable vessel. The sealable vessel is optionally detachable from the device. A portable sealable vessel configured to store and transport herbs, the herbs being microbially sealed therein, is also disclosed. The portable sealable vessel may be positioned in a slot of the device so as to generate plasma in the portable sealable vessel and disinfect the herbs. A multi-slot device is also disclosed, enabling plasma disinfection of herbs in a multitude of distinct sealable vessels.

Abstract: An apparatus for plasma treatment of an implant prior to installing the implant in a live subject is provided. The apparatus comprises an activation device and a portable container detachable from the activation device. The portable container comprises a closed compartment containing the implant immersed in a fluid, and the activation device comprises a slot configured to receive the portable container. The activation device further comprises an electrical circuit configured to be electrically associated with at least one electrode and configured to provide to the at least one electrode electric power suitable for applying a plasma generating electric field in the closed compartment, when the portable container is disposed in the slot. A container suitable for providing plasma treatment to a silicone implant and a method for preparing an implant for implantation surgery are also provided.

Abstract: A method for pre-treating a catheter prior to using the catheter in a medical procedure, and a related apparatus, are provided. The method comprises exposing, in a plasma chamber positioned in a medical care center, and under sterile conditions, intraluminal surfaces and extraluminal surfaces of the catheter to plasma. The plasma is electromagnetically-generated adjacently to the intraluminal surfaces and extraluminal surfaces, thereby rendering, at least temporarily, the intraluminal surfaces and extraluminal surfaces of the catheter hydrophilic.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating an implant in a medical care center prior to using the implant in a medical procedure. The method comprises applying a plasma-generating electromagnetic (EM) field using at least one electrode so as to generate plasma in a vicinity of the implant while displacing the electrode and the implant relative to one another. A portable plasma module and a docking station configured to connect to the portable plasma module, thereby forming a plasma generating system, are also provided. A plasma generating apparatus for treating an implant prior to using the implant in a medical procedure is also provided.

Abstract: A portable container is provided for handling an implant. The container comprises a sealed compartment enclosing a fluid of a pre-defined composition and at least one implant configured to be installed in a live subject. The container may comprise at least one electrode made of an electrical conductive material, electrically associated with an electric conductor outside the sealed compartment and configured for applying a plasma generating electric field inside the sealed compartment. An apparatus for plasma treatment of an implant and having an activation device is further provided. The activation device comprises a slot configured to receive a portable container, and an electrical circuit configured to be electrically associated with at least one electrode. The electrical circuit is configured to provide to the at least one electrode electric power suitable for applying a plasma generating electric field in the sealed compartment, when the portable container is disposed in the slot.

Abstract: A portable container is provided for handling an implant. The portable container comprises a sealed compartment enclosing a fluid of a pre-defined composition and at least one implant configured to be installed in a live subject. The portable container may further comprise at least one electrode made of an electrical conductive material, electrically associated with an electric conductor outside the sealed compartment and configured for applying a plasma generating electric field inside the sealed compartment. An apparatus for plasma treatment of an implant and having an activation device is further provided. The activation device comprises a slot configured to receive a portable container, and an electrical circuit configured to be electrically associated with at least one electrode.

Abstract: An apparatus for plasma treatment of an implant prior to installing the implant in a live subject is provided. The apparatus comprises an activation device and a portable container detachable from the activation device. The portable container comprises a closed compartment containing the implant immersed in a fluid, and the activation device comprises a slot configured to receive the portable container. The activation device further comprises an electrical circuit configured to be electrically associated with at least one electrode and configured to provide to the at least one electrode electric power suitable for applying a plasma generating electric field in the closed compartment, when the portable container is disposed in the slot. A container suitable for providing plasma treatment to a silicone implant and a method for preparing an implant for implantation surgery are also provided.

Abstract: A portable container is provided for handling an implant. The portable container comprises a sealed compartment enclosing a fluid of a pre-defined composition and at least one implant configured to be installed in a live subject. The portable container may further comprise at least one electrode made of an electrical conductive material, electrically associated with an electric conductor outside the sealed compartment and configured for applying a plasma generating electric field inside the sealed compartment. An apparatus for plasma treatment of an implant and having an activation device is further provided. The activation device comprises a slot configured to receive a portable container, and an electrical circuit configured to be electrically associated with at least one electrode.