Irradiation Experiments on a Mouse Using a Mild-Plasma Generator for Medical Applications

概要

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Plasma technologies using an argon plasma coagulator have been used in endoscopic therapy to induce blood coagulation and ablate residual tumors. However, present devices have a risk of perforating the stomach wall during endoscopic submucosal dissection. Therefore, to reduce this risk, irradiation is performed for a limited time, which leads to incomplete cessation of bleeding and recurrence of residual tumors. Therefore, a device with greater controllability and safety is strongly desired for clinical applications. In this study, we have evaluated the irradiation efficiency of an atmospheric-pressure plasma jet based on a dielectric barrier discharge to control bleeding. Bleeding from a mouse femoral artery was induced, and then plasma was irradiated onto the bleeding area. Prompt coagulation in the disrupted blood vessel was observed, and there was no histological evidence of either burns or tissue necrosis caused by the plasma jet. These results suggest that postoperative scarring and adhesion may be prevented using the proposed plasma generator because of the reduced tissue damage.