INP

Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology
Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2
17489 Greifswald
GERMANY

https://www.inp-greifswald.de/en/
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The Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) is the largest non-university institute in the field of low temperature plasmas, their basics and technical applications in Europe. The institute carries out research and development from idea to prototype. The topics focus on the needs of the market. At present, plasmas for materials and energy as well as for environment and health are the focus of interest.

Dörte Valenthin
Patent Officer

Tel.: +49(0) 3834 554 3909
Fax: +49(0) 3834 554 301

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Method, plasma ignition device and system for bio-decontamination, disinfection or sterilization of objects with a reactive gas

The invention relates to a method for the biological decontamination of material to be treated (4) by means of a reactive gas (R) comprising the generation of a reactive gas (R) from a process gas by igniting a plasma, filling a container (3) with the reactive gas (R) and the Decontamination of the material to be treated (4) in the container (3) by means of the reactive gas (R).
The invention further relates to a plasma ignition device (20) comprising an electrically conductive base plate (201) and at least two electrically conductive pins (202), the plasma ignition device (20) being designed to create an electric field between the pins (202) by resonance with microwaves to generate, wherein a plasma can be ignited by means of the electric field.
The invention also relates to a system (1) for the biological decontamination of items to be treated (4) by means of a reactive gas (R) with a container (3) for receiving items to be treated (4) and a plasma ignition device (20).

Figure 1 of the Patent Specification

Main Patent Claims: 

EP3536348 B1

1. Immersion decontamination method for the bio-decontamination of objects (4) by means of a reactive gas (R), comprising the following steps:
• Generating a reactive gas (R) from a process gas by igniting a plasma, wherein ambient air is used as the process gas and the reactive gas (R) comprises nitrogen dioxide (N02), and wherein the reactive gas (R) has a higher density than air at the same pressure and temperature,
• Filling a container (3) with the reactive gas (R) so that the container (3) is almost completely or at least partially filled with the reactive gas (R),
• Bio-decontamination of the objects to be treated (4) in the container (3) by means of the reactive gas (R), wherein the objects to be treated (4) are lowered into the container (3) filled with reactive gas (R) so that the objects to be treated are completely covered by the reactive gas, wherein, after a decontamination period has elapsed, the objects to be treated are removed from the container,
• wherein, after the decontamination time has elapsed, the objects are flushed with a flushing gas at a flushing position in order to remove the reactive gas, so that residues of the reactive gas are removed from the objects to be treated.

Patent Info
FieldValue
Patent Family
Patent OfficePatent NumberFiledDate of PatentLegal Status
EPEP3536348B107.03.201829.10.2025granted
Applicant(s)
Inventors
Device Info
FieldValue
Plasma Source Application