Electrical equivalent model of a long dielectric barrier discharge plasma jet for endoscopy

Abstract

Cold atmospheric plasmas are a known source of reactive species enabling various treatments, from the healing of chronic wounds to the treatment of surface cancers. Therapeutic endoscopic procedures require developing specific flexible tools that can be used through or alongside endoscopes. Plasma devices for endoscopy have aroused significant research interest over the past few decades, but their electrical behaviour is not yet fully understood and predictable. There is thus a clear need for a robust model that provides a way to understand and optimize future devices. In this work, for the first time, an electrical equivalent model of a long plasma source (comprising plasma generation, transport and target interaction) was designed, implemented, and validated. System parameters were estimated based on the system geometry and independent measurements. The model reliably reproduces the double ignition (in the quartz chamber and at the treatment site) observed experimentally. Simulations globally agree with measurements taken for various gas gap distances and input voltages. Internal parameters that are difficult to measure, such as the electrical charge at the gas gaps, were inferred. The model can predict leakage current in the body and current at the target site. This work provides a new understanding of endoscopic plasma systems that could be used in the future to ensure patient and operator safety.