Abstract: A barrel reactor (100) comprises a rotatable barrel (102); a first roller (110) located outside of the barrel (102) and arranged to facilitate rotation of the barrel, wherein the roller (110) comprises at least part of a first electrode; and a second electrode (120). A plasma is formed between the electrodes (110, 120). The second electrode (120) may also comprise a roller and the barrel (102) may be mounted on the rollers (110, 120). The spacing between, or positions of, the electrodes (110, 120) may be adjusted so as to accommodate different barrels (102) and/or to change the plasma distribution within the barrel (102).

Abstract: A plasma coating device for treating a wound comprises a plasma chamber having: one or more electrodes, a gas supply inlet, a plasma outlet exposed to ambient pressure, and an ignition system operatively connected to the electrodes for providing a non-thermal equilibrium plasma within the plasma chamber. An aerosol delivery system is operable to introduce a bioresorbable material as an aerosol into the plasma, to produce a coating on the wound surface.

Abstract: A barrel reactor (100) comprises a rotatable barrel (102); a first roller (110) located outside of the barrel (102) and arranged to facilitate rotation of the barrel, wherein the roller (110) comprises at least part of a first electrode; and a second electrode (120). A plasma is formed between the electrodes (110, 120). The second electrode (120) may also comprise a roller and the barrel (102) may be mounted on the rollers (110, 120). The spacing between, or positions of, the electrodes (110, 120) may be adjusted so as to accommodate different barrels (102) and/or to change the plasma distribution within the barrel (102).

Abstract: A plasma coating device for treating a wound comprises a plasma chamber having: one or more electrodes, a gas supply inlet, a plasma outlet exposed to ambient pressure, and an ignition system operatively connected to the electrodes for providing a non-thermal equilibrium plasma within the plasma chamber. An aerosol delivery system is operable to introduce a bioresorbable material as an aerosol into the plasma, to produce a coating on the wound surface.

Abstract: A plasma coating device for treating a wound comprises a plasma chamber having: one or more electrodes, a gas supply inlet, a plasma outlet exposed to ambient pressure, and an ignition system operatively connected to the electrodes for providing a non-thermal equilibrium plasma within the plasma chamber. An aerosol delivery system is operable to introduce a bioresorbable material as an aerosol into the plasma, to produce a coating on the wound surface.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for producing a coated substrate, including dissolving at least one biomolecule to form a solution; nebulizing the solution to form a liquid aerosol; combining the liquid aerosol and a plasma to form a coating; and depositing, in the absence of reactive monomers, the coating onto a substrate surface. In an aspect, the substrate can be an implantable medical device.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a travelling web of material in a predetermined gaseous atmosphere comprising a chamber (1) through which a moving web of material (2) is transported from an inlet at a first end of the chamber (1) to an outlet at a second end and a means for introducing and controlling gas (5) intended to provide said predetermined gaseous atmosphere within said chamber (1), wherein said inlet and outlet each comprise a sealing means (4a, 4b) designed to enable passage of said web of material (2) therethrough whilst minimising the ingress of an external gas boundary layer (3) around said web of material (2) characterised in that said apparatus also comprises one or more re-circulation channels (7, 8) adapted to re-circulate gases within said chamber (1) from the second end of the chamber to the first end of the chamber thereby negating or substantially negating any pressure difference within the chamber (1) between said inlet and outlet.

Abstract: A plasma coating device for treating a wound comprises a plasma chamber having: one or more electrodes, a gas supply inlet, a plasma outlet exposed to ambient pressure, and an ignition system operatively connected to the electrodes for providing a non-thermal equilibrium plasma within the plasma chamber. An aerosol delivery system is operable to introduce a bioresorbable material as an aerosol into the plasma, to produce a coating on the wound surface.

Abstract: A plasma glow discharge and/or dielectric barrier discharge generating assembly (1) comprising at least one pair of substantially equidistant spaced apart electrodes (2), the spacing between the electrodes being adapted to form a plasma zone (8) upon the introduction of a process gas and enabling passage, where required, of gaseous, liquid and/or solid precursor(s) characterized in that at least one of the electrodes (2) comprises a housing (20) having an inner (5) and outer (6) wall, wherein the inner wall (5) is formed from a non-porous dielectric material, and which housing (20) substantially retains an at least substantially non-metallic electrically conductive material.

Abstract: A plasma glow discharge and/or dielectric barrier discharge generating assembly (1) comprising at least one pair of substantially equidistant spaced apart electrodes (2), the spacing between the electrodes being adapted to form a plasma zone (8) upon the introduction of a process gas and enabling passage, where required, of gaseous, liquid and/or solid precursor(s) characterized in that at least one of the electrodes (2) comprises a housing (20) having an inner (5) and outer (6) wall, wherein the inner wall (5) is formed from a non-porous dielectric material, and which housing (20) substantially retains an at least substantially non-metallic electrically conductive material.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a travelling porous web of material in a predetermined gaseous atmosphere comprising a process chamber (1) through which a moving web of porous material (2) is transported from an inlet at a first end of the process chamber (1) to an outlet at a second end of the process chamber (1) and a means for introducing and controlling required gas intended to provide said predetermined gaseous atmosphere in the chamber, (1). The inlet and outlet each comprise a sealing means (4a, 4b) designed to enable passage of the web of material therethrough whilst minimising the ingress of an external gas boundary layer around said material.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a travelling web of material in a predetermined gaseous atmosphere comprising a chamber (1) through which a moving web of material (2) is transported from an inlet at a first end of the chamber (1) to an outlet at a second end and a means for introducing and controlling gas (5) intended to provide said predetermined gaseous atmosphere within said chamber (1), wherein said inlet and outlet each comprise a sealing means (4a, 4b) designed to enable passage of said web of material (2) therethrough whilst minimising the ingress of an external gas boundary layer (3) around said web of material (2) characterised in that said apparatus also comprises one or more re-circulation channels (7, 8) adapted to re-circulate gases within said chamber (1) from the second end of the chamber to the first end of the chamber thereby negating or substantially negating any pressure difference within the chamber (1) between said inlet and outlet.

Abstract: A non-equilibrium atmospheric pressure plasma incorporating an atomised surface treatment agent is generated by applying a radio frequency high voltage to at least one electrode positioned within a dielectric housing while causing a process gas to flow from the inlet of the housing past the electrode to the outlet. The voltage applied is sufficiently high to generate a non-equilibrium atmospheric pressure plasma extending from the electrode at least to the outlet of the housing. The electrode may be combined with an atomiser for the surface treatment agent within the housing. The electrode may comprise a radioactive material. The surface to be treated can be positioned adjacent to the plasma outlet so that the surface is in contact with the plasma, and moved relative to the plasma outlet.

Abstract: A process for plasma coating a surface in which an atomized surface treatment agent is incorporated in a non-equilibrium atmospheric pressure plasma generated in a noble process gas and the surface to be treated is placed in contact with the atmospheric pressure plasma containing the atomized surface treatment agent, characterized in that particle content of the coating formed on the surface is reduced by incorporating a minor proportion of nitrogen in the process gas.

Abstract: In a process for plasma treating a surface, a non-equilibrium atmospheric pressure plasma is generated within a dielectric housing having an inlet and an outlet through which a process gas flows from the inlet to the outlet. A tube formed at least partly of dielectric material extends outwardly from the outlet of the housing, whereby the end of the tube forms the plasma outlet. The surface to be treated is positioned adjacent to the plasma outlet so that the surface is in contact with the plasma and is moved relative to the plasma outlet.

Abstract: A plasma glow discharge and/or dielectric barrier discharge generating assembly (1) comprising at least one pair of substantially equidistant spaced apart electrodes (2), the spacing between the electrodes being adapted to form a plasma zone (8) upon the introduction of a process gas and enabling passage, where required, of gaseous, liquid and/or solid precursor(s) characterized in that at least one of the electrodes (2) comprises a housing (20) having an inner (5) and outer (6) wall, wherein the inner wall (5) is formed from a non-porous dielectric material, and which housing (20) substantially retains an at least substantially non-metallic electrically conductive material.

Abstract: An atmospheric pressure plasma system (1) sharing electrodes (4) defining a plasma region (5) mounted in an enclosure housing (2). The enclosure housing has an open to atmosphere entry port assembly (10) and exit port assembly (11) for the continuous transfer of work-pieces through the plasma region (5). The embodiment illustrated is for precursor process gases having a relative density less than that of the ambient air so that the precursor gases rise in the enclosure housing (2) expelling the heavier ambient and exhaust gases. Where the gases have a relative density greater than ambient the port assemblies (10 and 11) are sited above the plasma region (5).

Abstract: An atmospheric plasma generation assembly (100) having a body (17) containing a reactive agent introducing means, a process gas introducing means and one or more multiple parallel electrode arrangements adapted for generating a plasma. Each electrode arrangement having at least one partially dielectric coated electrode (3, 4) said assembly being adapted such that the only means of exit for a process gas and atomised liquid or solid reactive agent introduced into said assembly is through the plasma region (6) between the aforementioned electrodes (3, 4). The assembly is adapted to move relative to a substrate (1) substantially adjacent to the aforementioned electrodes outermost tips (23). The assembly may also comprise an extractor unit surrounding the plasma generating assembly, comprising an extractor body (8) which is adapted to isolate the assembly from external atmosphere and provide a means of removing exhaust process gas, reactive agents and by-products.

Abstract: An atmospheric pressure plasma assembly (1) comprising a first and second pair of vertically arrayed, parallel spaced-apart planar electrodes (36) with at least one dielectric plate (31) between said first pair, adjacent one electrode and at least one dielectric plate (31) between said second pair adjacent one electrode, the spacing between the dielectric plate and the other dielectric plate or electrode of each of the first and second pairs of electrodes forming a first and second plasma regions (25,60) characterised in that the assembly further comprises a means of transporting a substrate (70,71,72) successively through said first and second plasma regions (25,60) and an atomiser (74) adapted to introduce an atomised liquid or solid coating making material into one of said first or second plasma regions.

Abstract: An atmospheric plasma assembly has a pair of parallel spaced apart planar electrodes each bonded to a dielectric plate. Two spacer plates separate the dielectric plates to form a plasma region. Sparge poles having nozzles are used to spray cooling water on the dielectric plates and electrodes. Ideally the dielectric plates and electrodes are vertically arranged.