plasma care® cold plasma therapy

Cold atmospheric plasma is a partially ionised gas, known as the fourth state of matter, which is created by adding energy to a gas. Natural plasma, such as that found in lightning or the Northern Lights, is too hot for use on human skin. The technical development of cold atmospheric plasma, at room temperature and under atmospheric pressure, has made its use possible. When producing cold plasma, just enough energy is supplied to achieve partial ionisation, whereby the temperature is kept below 40°C. This process creates a "plasma cocktail" consisting of various components which is toxic to bacteria but stimulates cell division in healthy human cells. Cold plasma for medical purposes is specifically designed to increase the proportion of reactive species that make up the medically effective part of the plasma cocktail, while minimising the proportion of visible light, UV and thermal radiation.

The duration of the therapy varies depending on the type, severity and history of the wound. An experienced wound care specialist can determine whether the wound is responding to the treatment after just 2–3 applications. This is demonstrated, among other things, by improved blood circulation, reduced odour, reduced wound secretion, decreased wound area and less pain when changing dressings. For heavily stressed wounds such as amputation stumps, regular follow-up treatment may be necessary.

The treatment time for one wound area is at least one minute and can be up to three minutes per area for heavily contaminated wounds. The duration of the treatment also varies depending on the size of the wound. A maximum area of 70–78 cm² can be treated with a spacer, which means that the plasma care device must be applied six times for one minute each time, resulting in a total treatment time of 6 minutes.

In general, the risk of postoperative wound healing problems increases with the size of the surgical wound and the duration of the procedure. Postoperative wounds respond particularly well to treatment with cold plasma, which leads to healthier wound healing. Significantly faster healing has been observed, particularly in problematic areas that are exposed to heavy loads and contamination.

The device has been designed for both inpatient and outpatient wound treatment. It is therefore crucial that the spacer is secure and sterile at all times, regardless of who is using it, which patient is being treated or which ward is involved. It is essential to prevent any transmission of bacteria or germs from one patient to another. This can only be 100% guaranteed by using a disposable product.