Patent · US Expired

Surface cleaning and sterilization

US7432470B2 · kind B2 · utility

5Cited by

193References

18Claims

0Family size

Assignee

BTU International, Inc. · US

Inventors

Satyendra Kumar · Troy, US
Devendra Kumar · Rochester Hills, US
Dominique Tasch · Biberach, DE
Raimund Stroebel · Neu-Ulm, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Mar 17, 2006
Grant date	Oct 7, 2008
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Mar 17, 2026

Classification

Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
CPC primaryH05H1/461
WIPO fieldChemical engineering
WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for igniting, modulating, and sustaining a plasma for various plasma processes and treatments. Such treatments include cleaning and sterilizing parts. In some embodiments, a plasma is ignited by subjecting a gas in a multi-mode processing cavity to electromagnetic radiation having a frequency between about 1 MHz and about 333 GHz in the presence of a plasma catalyst. A part can be cleaned by, for example, inserting hydrogen into the plasma and exposing the part to the hydrogen-enriched plasma. A part can be sterilized by heating the part with the plasma.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.