Abstract: A gas supply device comprises a gas capsule 2 having a diaphragm closure 4. A cap 10 having a passage 12 therethrough is fixedly secured to the capsule 2. There is a valve member 14 in the passage 12, The valve member 14 has a forward face carrying a diaphragm-piercing device 20 able to be urged by application of a force against the bias of a spring 22 to pierce the diaphragm closure 4 to release gas from the capsule 2. Removal of the diaphragm-piercing force, causes a rearward face 30 of the valve member 14 to be biased by the spring 22 into a valve-closing position in which gas is retained in the capsule 2.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device 10 for generating a non-thermal gaseous plasma which may be a flow of gas plasma in the form of a gas plasma plume emitted from the device. The device comprises a gas capsule, or pressure vessel, 12 for holding a gas or gases 14 under pressure and forming a flow of gas through a plasma generator 16 to an applicator 18 when released from the capsule. Gas released from the gas capsule is energised in the reaction generator to form a gas plasma. The device has a housing 28 for the plasma generator 16, a battery 116 and a signal generator 58 for energising the plasma generator. The gas capsule 12 docks with the housing 28. The device is adapted to be hand-held, typically by the gas capsule 12, and operated to allow it to be used for instance for cleaning and whitening teeth.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for generating a non-thermal gas species which may be a flow of gas plasma in the form of a gas plasma plume emitted from the device. The device comprises a gas capsule, or pressure vessel for holding a gas or gases under pressure and forming a flow of gas through a reaction generator to an applicator when released from the capsule. Gas released from the gas capsule is energised in the reaction generator to form the gas plasma. The device is designed to be hand held and hand operated so that it may be used for cleaning and whitening teeth as well as other applications.

Abstract: An interdental treatment device comprises a generator 16 for generating a non-thermal gaseous plasma at a temperature suitable for use in oral treatment and an applicator 18 of the non-thermal plasma. The applicator 18 may comprise a hollow needle member for directing a jet of the non-thermal plasma interdentally. Alternatively the applicator 18 may comprise an interdental brush having a hollow head for receiving a non-thermal gaseous plasma, the head having at least one lateral opening for the discharge of the plasma. The generator 16 and applicator 18 may both form part of a hand-held device 10 having its own gas supply in the form of a capsule 12 containing pressurized gas and its own power supply in the form of a battery 20.

Abstract: A device for forming at an ambient atmospheric pressure a gaseous plasma comprising active species for treatment of a treatment region. The device comprises a plasma cell for forming the gaseous plasma for treating the treatment region. The plasma cell comprises an inlet for receiving gas from a source and an outlet for discharging active species generated in the cell. A dielectric substrate made of a polyimide encloses the flow path for gas conveyed from the inlet to the outlet and an electrode is formed on the dielectric substrate for energising gas along the flow path to form the active species. A protective coating or lining is located on an inner surface of the dielectric substrate for resisting reaction of the active species generated in the plasma cell with the material of the dielectric substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device 10 for generating a non-thermal gaseous plasma which may be a flow of gas plasma in the form of a gas plasma plume emitted from the device. The device comprises a gas capsule, or pressure vessel, 12 for holding a gas or gases 14 under pressure and forming a flow of gas through a plasma generator 16 to an applicator 18 when released from the capsule. Gas released from the gas capsule is energised in the reaction generator to form a gas plasma. The device has a housing 28 for the plasma generator 16, a battery 116 and a signal generator 58 for energising the plasma generator. The gas capsule 12 docks with the housing 28. The device is adapted to be hand-held, typically by the gas capsule 12, and operated to allow it to be used for instance for cleaning and whitening teeth.

Abstract: An interdental treatment device comprises a generator 16 for generating a non-thermal gaseous plasma at a temperature suitable for use in oral treatment and an applicator 18 of the non-thermal plasma. The applicator 18 may comprise a hollow needle member for directing a jet of the non-thermal plasma interdentally. Alternatively the applicator 18 may comprise an interdental brush having a hollow head for receiving a non-thermal gaseous plasma, the head having at least one lateral opening for the discharge of the plasma. The generator 16 and applicator 18 may both form part of a hand-held device 10 having its own gas supply in the form of a capsule 12 containing pressurised gas and its own power supply in the form of a battery 20.

Abstract: A closure device for a container of compressed gas, particularly a capsule having a water capacity in the range of 5 to 100 ml, comprises a shut-off valve 122 and a pressure-reducing valve 120, particularly a pressure regulating valve. The shut-off valve 122 is on the lower pressure side of the pressure-reducing valve 120. The closure device may also comprise a fill valve 118 to enable the container to be recharged with gas.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device 10 for generating a non-thermal gas species 24 which may be a flow of gas plasma in the form of a gas plasma plume emitted from the device. The device comprises a gas capsule, or pressure vessel, 12 for holding a gas or gases 14 under pressure and forming a flow of gas through a reaction generator 16 to an applicator 18 when released from the capsule. Gas released from the gas capsule is energised in the reaction generator to form a gas plasma. The device is adapted to be hand-held and operated to allow it to be used for instance for cleaning and whitening teeth.

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: The present invention provides a hand-held device 10 for providing a flow of plasma for treatment of a treatment region. The device comprises a plasma cell 16 defining a volume in which gas passing through a cell inlet from a gas source 22 can be energised to form a plasma and discharged through a cell outlet for treatment of a treatment region by said generated plasma, and a plurality of electrodes for receiving electrical power for energising gas in the cell to form a plasma, wherein the device comprises a valve arrangement 32 operable in an open condition to allow the discharge of plasma from the device to the treatment region and in a closed condition to resist the passage of ambient contaminants into the device in the absence of gas flow through the device from the gas source.

Abstract: A gas supply system is described comprising: a gas capsule enclosed at one end by a pierceable diaphragm; a spacer element adjacent the pierceable diaphragm, the spacer element having a channel providing access to the pierceable diaphragm; a shaft with a piercing tip; and a seal. The shaft, spacer element and seal are arranged so that when the shaft accesses the pierceable diaphragm via the channel, the shaft is caused to enter into a sealing engagement with the spacer element via the seal before the piercing tip pierces the pierceable diaphragm. In an alternative embodiment, no spacer element is provided and instead a seal is provided in a groove in a wall defining a recess at a position so that when a gas capsule is inserted into the recess, the seal enters into a sealing engagement with the gas capsule before the piercing tip of the shaft pierces the pierceable diaphragm enclosing the gas capsule.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hand-held teeth treatment device 1. The device 1 comprises a base unit 2 which is configured to be hand-held and operated and at least one applicator 3 comprising an applicator head 4 for applying treatment to teeth. The applicator comprises a connecting portion 5 for engaging with a complementary connecting portion 6 of the base unit for connecting the applicator to the base unit. Treatment generating means 7 receives electrical energy from a source of electrical energy 8 for generating treatment for application by the applicator. The device may have a set of interchangeable applicators 3, each applicable to a different treatment. Treatment activation means 5, 6 allow activation of the treatment generating means only when the or one of the applicators 3 is connected to the base unit 2.

Abstract: A device 10, typically hand-held, provides a flow of partially ionised gaseous plasma for treatment of a treatment region. The device comprises an applicator head 52 housing a miniature plasma cell 16 in which gas flowing through the cell from a gas source 22 can be energised to form a non-thermal gaseous plasma, and a plurality of electrodes 26, 28 for receiving electrical energy from a source of electrical energy for energising gas in a plasma forming region 18 in the cell to form said plasma. The applicator head 52 is detachable from the device and may be of a size and configuration to enable it to be inserted into the oral cavity of a human or animal.