Abstract: A plasina-generation device for applying plasma to a human body, having a reservoir containing a gas, a plasma zone in fluid connection with the reservoir, and means for generating a plasma by electrical discharge in the plasma zone. The gas has a composition of 92% to 99.5% Helium and 0.5% to 8% Argon; or 95% to 99.5% Helium and 1% to 20% Neon; or 99.95% to 99.99% Helium and 0.01% to 0.05% Oxygen.

Abstract: A plasma-generation device for applying plasma to a human body, having a reservoir containing a gas, a plasma zone in fluid connection with the reservoir, and means for generating a plasma by electrical discharge in the plasma zone. The gas has a composition of 92% to 99.9% Argon and 0.1% to 8% Krypton; or 95% to 99.5% Argon and 0.5% to 5% Hydrogen; or 92% to 99.5% Argon and 0.5% to 8% Nitrous Oxide.

Abstract: A plasma-generation device for applying plasma to a human body, having a reservoir containing a gas; a plasma zone in fluid connection with the reservoir, and means for generating a plasma by electrical discharge in the plasma zone. A means for generating free electrons is provided downstream of the reservoir and upstream of the plasma zone.

Abstract: A plasma treatment device comprises a body portion housing a battery, a gas cylinder, a power supply circuit and a plasma generator comprising a pair of electrodes. The device includes a detachable applicator portion and an elongate duct extending from the generator to convey generated plasma to an outlet of the duct and for directing a plasma plume formed at the outlet onto a treatment area. An annular electrode is disposed at the duct outlet and is connected to the power supply circuit via an elongate electrical conductor. The annular electrode conducts electrons in the plasma away from the plasma plume to avoid sensation caused by resultant current flow. A circuit may be provided to measure the current flow from the annular electrode, the circuit allowing adjustment of the power supplied to the pair of electrodes based on the measured current.

Abstract: A method of oral treatment comprises passing a flow of a gas mixture from a pressure vessel containing the gas mixture through a generator of non-thermal plasma; applying a partially ionising electrical potential to the flow of the gas mixture in the plasma generator, and thereby forming a non-thermal gaseous plasma in the gas mixture, and causing the flow of the gas mixture downstream of the plasma generator to perform the oral treatment. The gas mixture comprises (a) a noble gas selected from helium and argon and mixtures thereof, and (b) an additive gas selected from water vapour, air, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and nitric oxide and mixtures of any two or more thereof. The additive gas forms up to 1% by volume of the gas mixture. The oral treatment may be the cosmetic whitening of teeth, the non-clinical cleaning of teeth or the in situ cleaning of orthodontic braces, amongst others.

Abstract: A device 1 for delivering a partially-ionised first stream of gas, comprises a generator 24 of non-thermal plasma having a plasma generating chamber 25 defining a flow path therethrough for the first stream of gas and communicating downstream of the chamber with at least one first outlet 30 from the device for the partially ionised first stream of gas. The device 1 additionally comprises at least one second outlet 34 from the device for a second stream of gas, the configuration of outlets 30 and 34 enabling the second stream to shield the first stream downstream of the said first outlet 30. Interaction of the first stream of gas with the surrounding atmosphere is thus kept down.

Abstract: A method of making an active gas by generating a glow discharge, non-thermal plasma, in a gas mixture of a carrier gas and a more readily ionisable gas. The gas mixture is exposed to water vapour at or downstream from the generator to form the active gas. The gas mixture includes helium as the carrier gas and up to 40% by volume of at least one noble gas such as argon, krypton, or xenon as the more readily ionisable gas. The gas mixture is ejected at a temperature between 5° C. to 42° C. The active gas may be used for oral treatment such as cosmetic whitening of teeth, medical or non-clinical cleaning of teeth or for cleaning laundry or dishwashing items.

Abstract: A programmable integrated circuit performs an initial partial configuration of the programmable integrated circuit in response to receiving an activation signal. In this way, the programmable integrated circuit enables an initial functionality of the programmable integrated circuit. The programmable integrated circuit then performs a subsequent partial configuration of the programmable integrated circuit for enabling additional functionality of the programmable integrated circuit. In some embodiments, the programmable integrated circuit receives an input signal indicating a stimulus in an environment of the programmable integrated circuit and determines based on the input signal whether to perform the subsequent partial configuration of the programmable integrated circuit or generate a power down signal for powering down the programmable integrated circuit without performing the subsequent partial configuration.

Abstract: A churn-free process for producing a spreadable dairy product includes the steps of: providing a cream having a fat content in the preferred range of approximately 38-42% butterfat; concentrating the cream to increase the fat content to at least 80% butterfat; processing the cream through a homogenizer such that the cream is inverted from an oil-in-water emulsion to a water-in-oil emulsion; adding a liquid vegetable oil to the water-in-oil emulsion; and cooling the vegetable oil/cream mixture sufficiently, preferably through a swept-surface heat exchanger, such that a viscous spread-like mixture is produced.