Cold Plasma Sterilization for Contamination Control

This proposal offers a novel method to sterilize sensitive materials, electronics, and instruments using a Radio Frequency (RF) induced plasma. This approach does not use steam, high pressure, or harsh chemicals which are not compatible with sensitive materials and electronics. The technology will be used to sterilize spacecraft assemblies and components prior to launch. It may also be used to sterilize equipment and samples taken during planetary exploration, or from studies conducted on space stations, prior to returning them to Earth. The funding provided for this project will be used to conduct laboratory experiments to determine the ability of the plasma to sterilize into cracks, crevices, and through dirt/dust coated surfaces. The specific technical objectives for this project will be to: Objective 1: Demonstrate dry plasma can penetrate into a variety of surface crevices, undulations, and cracks. Objective 2: Demonstrate dry plasma can penetrate through dirt and dust coatings to sterilize a surface. Objective 3: Demonstrate that exposure to RF induced plasma does not degrade electronics or optics. The target commercial market for this technology includes the healthcare industry, as well as the logistics services industry (i.e., delivery services). The primary healthcare market will be hospital and dental surgical scopes and other high value, electronic equipment. For the logistic services companies, the technology will be used to clean their electronic signature devices between deliveries and/or between driver shifts. As companies move away from non-contact deliveries, cleaning between deliveries is important, as well as for shift changeover to prevent spread of diseases.