RESEARCHERS from CSIRO, The University of Sydney, and Hong Kong research institutes have created a plasma flashlight which sterilises skin and wounds.
The handheld plasma flashlight could be used in emergencies and remote areas where treatment is required. It is driven by a 12V battery and does not require any external generator or wall power.
Even though it’s a plasma system, the flashlight does not require any external gas feed or handling system. The device itself is fitted with resistors to stop it heating up and making it safe to touch.
The flashlight has been shown to effectively inactivate a thick biofilm of one of the most antibiotic and heat-resistant bacteria, Enterococcus faecalis – a bacterium which often infects the root canals during dental treatments.
The temperature of the plume of plasma in the experiments was between 20 to 23 degrees C, which is very close to room temperature and therefore prevents any damage to the skin. It is also low in UV.
Co-author of the study CSRIO’s Professor Kostya (Ken) Ostrikov, said that results showed that the plasma not only inactivated the top layer of cells, but penetrated deep into the very bottom of the layers to kill the bacteria.
The device can be easily made and costs less than 100 US dollars to produce. It is currently in the pre-commercialisation stages, and more miniaturisation and engineering design will make it more appealing.
Plasma is the fourth state of matter, following solids, liquids and gases. It is very effective in killing bacteria and viruses, although the exact mechanism for this effect is largely unknown.