Device and Method for Dry-Cleaning, Activating, Coating, Modifying, and Biologically Decontaminating the Inner Walls of Hoses, Pipes, and Other Hollow Bodies

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This invention discloses a device and method for treating the inner surfaces of hoses, pipes, and other hollow bodies using a physical plasma generated inside the walls of the tubes. By integrating electrodes within the tube walls in specific patterns and applying high voltage along with a gas flow, the device can dry-clean, activate, coat, modify, and biologically decontaminate the internal surfaces. Unlike prior methods, this system does not require additional internal or external electrodes and is compatible with both flexible and rigid tubes, making it suitable for complex medical devices.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Sterilization and decontamination of medical tubing, catheters, and endoscope channels
• Internal surface cleaning in biotechnological or pharmaceutical manufacturing pipelines
• Enhancement (activation or coating) of internal surfaces for improved biocompatibility or reduced friction in medical and industrial hoses
• Preparation of tubes and hoses in food and beverage processing to ensure hygiene and longer product shelf-life
• Therapeutic applications such as localized disinfection or treatment delivery via specialized medical hoses
• Modification or coating of interior pipe surfaces to impart specific chemical properties (e.g., anti-microbial, hydrophobic)

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Enables uniform plasma treatment along the entire length of narrow or long tubes, even in assembled devices
• Avoids the need for post-manufacture insertion of electrodes, reducing risk of tube damage and operational complexity
• Maintains or even enhances structural properties like flexibility and strength of the tube
• Allows use of various gases and plasma conditions for customizable treatments (e.g., cleaning, coating, activation, sterilization)
• Reduces downtime and increases sterility in medical and industrial settings, improving safety and productivity
• Compatible with both new and installed tubing systems (retrofit possible), making it versatile and cost-effective
• Minimizes material property changes to the tube itself, preserving functionality while enabling surface modification
• Facilitates plasma treatment even on moist or liquid-coated inner walls, enhancing practicality

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a device and method for uniformly producing a physical plasma in long and simultaneously narrow tubular cavities or flexible or rigid, dielectric hoses, pipes, or other hollow bodies (referred to as hoses below) in the low or normal pressure range in order to dry-clean, activate, coat, modify, and biologically decontaminate (purify, disinfect, sterilize) the inner walls of said hoses, and for therapeutic applications, by means of barrier discharge. The device comprises a high-voltage supply and a gas supply, at least one electrically conductive, grounded electrode, and at least one electrically conductive high-voltage electrode in the wall of the hose, wherein the electrodes extend helically along the axis of the hose or extend in parallel in the axial direction, or the electrodes are introduced together with non-conducting fibers as a mesh.