What is "Cold Atmospheric Plasma" (CAP)?
Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) refers to ionized gases that are generated at low temperatures under atmospheric pressure. CAP consists of a mixture of electrons, ions, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, which have antimicrobial and regenerative properties. The technology was originally developed in the 1990s for surface sterilization, but has become increasingly important in medicine in recent years, particularly in wound healing.
CAP is used to promote the healing of chronic problem wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers, leg ulcers (venous or arterial ulcers) and wounds in the anus and coccyx area. Studies show that CAP reduces the bacterial load, modulates inflammatory processes and promotes cell proliferation, which is particularly beneficial for wounds that are difficult to heal. CAP therefore offers a promising, non-invasive treatment method for accelerating the healing of such wounds.
How is cold plasma used in wound treatment?
There are various techniques for plasma generation in medicine. The most common systems are the Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) method and the Plasma Jet method. Both systems have proven their worth in wound treatment, especially for problem wounds that do not respond to conventional therapies.
- Glass tube (plasma jet): In this procedure, a plasma stream is passed through a glass tube, typically with argon or helium as the carrier gas. The plasma stream is applied over the wound as a plasma brush and can be up to a few centimeters away. This enables precise application, especially in hard-to-reach wounds.
- Spacer electrode (DBD plasma): This uses the skin or wound as a second electrode, with the electrode and skin separated by a gas-filled plasma cloud. This is an effective technique for large wounds as the plasma acts directly on the skin surface.
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