Dustin Borg, ME

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• Dustin Borg, ME
• Patrick Henley, BME
• Ali Husain, BME
• Nick Stroeher, BME
• Advisor Dr. Joel Barnett

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What is Plasma?
Plasma is a state of matter with enough free
charged particles so that its dynamics are
heavily influenced by electromagnetic forces. ?
gaseous fluid-like mixture of ions, free
electrons,radicals and excited atoms and
molecules The Plasma Needle uses Low-Temperature
Plasma (LTP) ? small fraction of neutral
particles in gas are ionized ? electrons are
high energy ions are ambient temp. ? retains
neutral charge
http//solar.physics.montana.edu/martens/plasma/
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Problem
   

• Plaque can build up in blood vessels leading to
  infarctions, stoppage in blood flow or possibly
  to heart attack
• Subjects with cholesterol, were about
  two-and-a-half times more likely to have advanced
  plaque blockages in their coronary arteries
• Heart disease is America's major killer
• Severe blockage due to arterial plaque, a clot, a
  spasm, or any combination of these, may lead to a
  myocardial infarction, the dreaded heart attack,
  resulting in cardiac dysfunction and often rapid
  death

http//www.ynhh.org/healthlink/cardiac/cardiac_9_0
0.html http//www.coconut-info.com/diet_and_diseas
e.htm
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Possible Solution?

• Cholesterol builds underneath the endothelium
  tissue at early stages of arterial blockage
• Slowing or possibly eliminating the buildup
  of cholesterol beneath endothelium tissue can
  hypothetical lower the risk of arterial blockage

http//www.2sourcesofcholesterol.com/2sourcesofcho
lesterol/images/your_cholesterol/artery_plaque.jpg
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Current Known Effects of Plasma on Cell Tissue

• Plasma Needle likely damages CAM proteins so that
  cholesterol is not able to bind to the
  endothelium cell wall as easily, therefore
  meaning less cholesterol builds in artery
• Destruction of CAM ? proliferation of free
  radicals (O, OH) previous research shows that
  plasma does disperse free radicals in a localized
  area. Amount of free radicals at a specific
  point depends on the distance from the plasma

The Development of a Smart-Scanning Probe for the
Plasma Needle, Ewout van der Laan
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Project Goal

• Design and Build a Working Plasma-catheter
• Construct functioning basic plasma needle
  prototype
• Design catheter
• Build catheter design incorporating functioning
  plasma needle
• Characterize plasma-catheter prototype
• Refine design to suit surgical needs

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Requirements to Meet Goals

• Flexibility
• Tungsten electrode
• Bending catheter should not affect gas helium
  flow
• Insulating material
• Safety
• Minimal He flow
• Possibly requiring a separating material between
  plasma discharge and biological tissue
• No blood flowing into catheter and no bubbles
  going into bloodstream

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Our Progress So Far

• Faculty Consultation
• Welding Experts
• High Frequency Electronics Technician
• Cardiovascular Surgeon
• Electrode Researcher
• Design of Test Rig Prototype
• Arranging for Experimental Setup
• Commissioning of Glass Test Rig to Specifications
• Arranging for Suitable Lab Space
• Acquisition of Necessary Electronic Components
• Acquisition of He Flow Equipment
• Purchasing of Other Necessary Materials
• Design of Catheter
• Research into Operating Parameters
• Brainstorm Potential Designs
• Selection of Best Design

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Plasma Needle Operating Characteristics

• RF Frequency 13.56 MHz (universal)
• P-P RF Voltage 200 - 400 V
• Power Level 100 400 mW
• Needle Resistance 1.1 ohm
• Needle Capacitance 28.8 pF
• Plasma Resistance 2 ohms
• (Plasma discharge purely resistive)
• Helium Flow 0.1L/min
• Minimum Ignition Voltage 250 V

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Plasma Needle Prototype Experimental Setup
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First Test Rig
teflon coating
glass
5 cm
2 mm
RF
tungsten
Diameter of Tungsten Needle 0.3mm Length
5cm Material Glass
helium
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Revised Test Rig

• Modifications
• Lengthened Input Opening
• Enlarged Input Diameter

58 mm
25 mm
50 mm
35 mm
2 mm
Needle coating
Electrode
Electrode coating
HypodermicNeedle
Shaft Length 5 cm Outer Diameter 4 mm Inner
Diameter 2 mm Electrode Diameter .3 mm
4.3 mm
Helium flow
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Detailed View of Electrode Input
Teflon Needle Insulation
Tungsten electrode
10 mm Teflon overlap
25 mm needle tip
Stainless Steel Hypodermic needle
Teflon Electrode Insulation
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Function Generator

• RF Signal 13.56 MHz
• Max Power Output 10 W

• (Courtesy of our Dutch colleagues)

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Variable Matchbox

• Z-11 QRP Automatic Antenna Tuner
• Manufacturer LDG Electronics Inc.
• Size 5.0 x 6.5 x 1.3 enclosure
• Tunes 6-800 ohm loads
• Tuning time .1-3 sec
• 1.8 30.0 MHz Coverage
• Power range .1-30 W

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• Z-11 QRP Automatic Antenna Tuner
• Config Switched L network
• Microprocessor Controlled
• Inductor range 20 uH
• Capacitor range 2700 pf

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• Ramsey QRP Power Meter
• Continuous measurement from 1µWatts to 50Watts
• Allows measurement of both forward and reflected
  power

http//www.ramseyelectronics.com/cgi-bin/commerce.
exe?preaddactionkeyPM10DC
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Helium Source and Flow Meter

• Helium on hand in EE Welding Lab
• Flow meter is calibrated for really small flows
• External needle valve possibly needed

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Costs
Item Cost
RF Generator 0
Ramsey QRP Power Meter 164.95
LDG Z-11 QRP Autotuner 125.95
Cole-Palmer Flow Meter 179
Electric Connections 23.24
Tungsten Wire 3.55
Teflon Tubing 5
Hypodermic Needles 66
Glass Test Rig 50
Sum 617.69
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Catheter Designs
5 cm
35 mm
Flexible Catheter
20 mm
2 mm
Electrode
Electrode coating
HypodermicNeedle
Potential Internal Catheter Configurations
4.3 mm
Helium flow
(end view)
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Immediate Goals(through beginning of April)

• Construction of plasma needle prototype
• Assess need for external needle valve
• Construct experimental setup in EE Welding Lab
• Run simulation and make necessary modifications
• Contact Coordinating Group
• Clarify necessary parameters for plasma
  characterization
• Confirm parameters for final catheter design for
  use in rabbit test subjects
• Establish communication with researchers planning
  to conduct animal testing
• Catheter Design Work
• Continue discussions with local medical
  professionals
• Meet with Vanderbilt Catheter Lab specialists
• Construct catheter prototype
• Conduct laboratory testing to characterize
  catheter

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Timeline
Gas Plasma Catheter Research

• December
• January
• February
• March
• April

Research Design of Catheter
Construction of Functioning Plasma Needle
Prototype
Catheter Construction
Physical Testing and Refinement of Plasma Catheter
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Our Dutch Counterparts

• Willem-Jan van Harskamp, Applied Physics
• Vivian Roode, BME
• Gijs Snieders, BME
• M. van Vlimmeren, BME
• Advisor Dr. Eva Adamowicz

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Level of Development of Plasma Needle Technology

• Completed
• Evaluation of the electrical characteristics of
  the plasma needle
• Sensing the gap width by monitoring the discharge
  power consumption
• Adapted positioning sensor
• Current
• Design Plasma-Catheter
• Future
• Testing in animal blood vessels