A pencil-shaped device that shoots out cold plasma with anti-microbial properties sounds like a gadget straight out of a sci-fi movie.
It isn't a work of fiction though -- Dr. Mounir Laroussi, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Old Dominion University, is developing such a product. Although you cannot use the plasma pencil to write, this biomedical technology use of cold plasma may be able to prevent infections and diseases.
So how is the plasma pencil supposed to help eliminate bacteria? When emitted from the pencil-shaped device, the plasma charges the surrounding air molecules and creates free radicals, thereby once again poking holes in the bacterial cell walls and killing the microbe.
The device is not supposed to affect human skin, said Laroussi, who pointed out that human skin cells have a more sophisticated cell wall structure than bacteria. The complexity of skin cells is what prevents them from breaking apart when hit by the low-temperature plasma.
Another planned application of the plasma pencil is healing wounds.
"Let's say you have a patient with a cut and burn. Instead of using liquid, you can apply the plasma and kill the bacteria without leaving residue," Laroussi said.
Fishman said he believes the plasma pencil seems like promising technology, especially with regard to its function as a wound healer. However, he noted that more research needs to be done on the device.
"I think there needs to be a lot more work done on this," said Fishman. "More work on the safety."
Do you have more information about this topic? If so, please click here to contact the editors of ABC News.
