title: Risk assessment of the application of a plasma jet in dermatology.
abstract: Regardless of the fact that several highly efficient antiseptics are commercially available, the antiseptic treatment of chronic wounds remains a problem. In the past, electrical plasma discharges have been frequently used in biometrical science for disinfection and sterilization of material surfaces. Plasma systems usually have a temperature of several hundred degrees. Recently, it was reported that "cold" plasma can be applied onto living tissue. In in vitro studies on cell culture, it could be demonstrated that this new plasma possesses excellent antiseptic properties. We perform a risk assessment concerning the in vivo application of a "cold" plasma jet on patients and volunteers. Two potential risk factors, UV radiation and temperature, are evaluated. We show that the UV radiation of the plasma in the used system is an order of magnitude lower than the minimal erythema dose, necessary to produce sunburn on the skin in vivo. Additionally, thermal damage of the tissue by the plasma can be excluded. The results of the risk assessment stimulate the in vivo application of the investigated plasma jet in the treatment of chronic wounds.
authors.affiliation: Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Center of Experimental and Cutaneous Physiology, Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Chariteplatz 1, Berlin 10117, Germany. juergen.lademann@charite.de
authors.forename: Juergen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lademann
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Alena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alborova
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Humme
authors.forename: Alexa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patzelt
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: Klaus-Dieter
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Weltmann
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ottomann
authors.forename: Joachim W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Fluhr
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hinz
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hübner
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lademann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003880:Dermatology / Q000379:methods*; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D004890:Erythema / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013552:Swine