Plasma Jet Biomedical Applications 2026 — PatSnap Eureka
Plasma Jet Biomedical Application Technology Landscape
Cold atmospheric plasma jets are reshaping oncology, wound healing, and surgical medicine by delivering reactive oxygen and nitrogen species at near-ambient temperatures. Explore the full innovation landscape — from foundational DBD architectures to AI-integrated plasma robotics — synthesized from patent and literature data spanning 2009–2024.
How Cold Atmospheric Plasma Jets Work in Biomedical Contexts
Plasma jet biomedical technology exploits the unique properties of low-temperature, atmospheric-pressure, partially ionized gases to deliver reactive chemical and physical agents directly to biological targets without inducing thermal damage. Unlike thermal plasmas used in industrial processes, CAP jets operate at near-ambient temperatures (below 40°C), making them tissue-compatible.
The core active agents produced by plasma jets include reactive oxygen species (ROS: hydroxyl radicals [OH•], hydrogen peroxide [H₂O₂], singlet oxygen [¹O₂], ozone [O₃]) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS: nitric oxide [NO], nitrogen dioxide [NO₂]), alongside UV photons, charged particles, and electric fields. As documented by Indiana University (2020), this cocktail of agents at low temperature makes LTP "appropriate for the alteration of inorganic surfaces and delicate biological systems."
Three primary plasma source architectures appear across the dataset: (1) dielectric barrier discharge (DBD)-driven jets, (2) single- or multi-electrode free-stream jets, and (3) microplasma jet arrays. Feed gases vary from noble gases (helium, argon) to ambient air and nitrogen mixtures, each producing distinct RONS profiles that modulate biological outcomes. The American Physical Society and World Health Organization have both flagged non-thermal plasma as an area of emerging clinical significance.
The field sits at the intersection of plasma physics, chemistry, biology, and clinical medicine — a convergence formally articulated in the 2022 Plasma Roadmap (Osaka University), which identifies plasma medicine as one of the central growth areas for low-temperature plasma globally. For IP teams exploring this space, PatSnap's patent analytics platform provides deep landscape coverage across all major jurisdictions.
Plasma Jet Biomedical: Key Metrics from the Patent & Literature Dataset
All data visualized below is derived exclusively from the patent and literature records spanning 2009–2024, as retrieved and analyzed via PatSnap Eureka.
Plasma Jet Anti-Cancer Selectivity: Tumor vs. Normal Cell Response
Plasma jet inhibited tumor cell proliferation by up to 75% while stimulating normal cell proliferation by up to 25% — demonstrating cancer selectivity (Russian Academy of Sciences, 2020).
Patent Filing Jurisdictions — Plasma Jet Biomedical Dataset
Japan leads formal IP activity with 4 active patents. Other jurisdictions (PL, DE, ID, US) hold inactive or adjacent filings in this dataset.
Application Domain Research Activity — Relative Coverage in Dataset
Oncology is the most extensively documented domain, followed by dermatology/wound healing, sterilization, dentistry, and stem cell engineering.
Four Technology Cluster Architecture Overview
From foundational DBD jets to AI-integrated robotic delivery — the four primary technology clusters in the plasma jet biomedical dataset.
Four Primary Plasma Jet Technology Clusters
From foundational DBD configurations to AI-driven robotic plasma delivery, these clusters map the engineering diversity of plasma jet biomedical innovation in the 2009–2024 dataset.
DBD-Driven Free-Stream Plasma Jets
Dielectric barrier discharge configurations use one or two dielectric layers to prevent arc formation while sustaining non-equilibrium plasma. Noble gases (He, Ar) or air are driven through a cylindrical tube between electrodes to produce a cold plasma plume extending centimeters beyond the nozzle. Tissue temperature maintained below 40°C. A University of Baghdad study (2021) characterized the helium non-equilibrium APPJ for wound healing and oncology applications in dentistry and dermatology. A Universitas Muhammadiyah Semarang patent (ID, 2021) demonstrated LD₅₀ at 213 seconds exposure on fibroblasts.
LD₅₀ at 213 seconds on fibroblastsMiniaturized and Flexible Plasma Jet Arrays
This cluster addresses treating large or topographically irregular surfaces (e.g., tumor beds, skin lesions) by deploying multi-jet arrays or morphing flexible jet tubes. Uniformity of RONS delivery across non-planar surfaces is the primary engineering objective. Dalian University of Technology (2009) established a seven-jet 2D CAP array operating in direct and remote (afterglow) modes. The UCLA tiny plasma jet (2021) demonstrated no tissue burning at 10–15 mm working distance. George Washington University (2023) reviewed ultra-flexible long-tube plasma projectors addressing inter-jet interaction minimization.
No tissue burning at 10–15 mm working distancePlasma-Activated Liquid (PAL) Systems
Rather than direct plasma-tissue contact, this approach irradiates aqueous media (saline, cell culture medium, water) with plasma jets to generate long-lived RONS-enriched liquids that are subsequently applied therapeutically. PAL extends plasma reach to anatomically inaccessible sites. Ajou University (2021) reviewed PAL's utility covering H₂O₂, NO₂⁻, and peroxynitrite species stability. A 2024 Tübingen medical device patent (JP filing, active) covers PAL generation for prevention and treatment of postoperative adhesions — the most recent active filing in the dataset.
H₂O₂, NO₂⁻, peroxynitrite — long-lived RONSAI-Integrated and Robotic Plasma Delivery
The newest cluster integrates cold plasma jets with machine learning-based dosimetry, robotic delivery platforms, and real-time optical feedback systems. George Washington University (2021) published the first application of artificial neural networks to real-time plasma chemistry diagnostics, using spontaneous emission spectroscopy to feed ANN for adaptive RONS output optimization. Jiangnan University (2021) reviewed macro- and micro-scale plasma robots combining CAP delivery with surgical precision. FUJI Corporation's JP patent family (2020–2023) covers automated optical indicator-based dose verification for medical-grade plasma irradiation.
First ANN applied to real-time plasma chemistry (2021)Plasma Jet Biomedical Applications: Domain-by-Domain Summary
Six documented application domains spanning oncology, dermatology, dentistry, surgical oncology, sterilization, and tissue engineering — each with distinct maturity and regulatory status.
| Application Domain | Maturity Status | Key Finding / Milestone | Lead Institution (Dataset) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oncology Most Documented | In vivo validated; no oncology-specific regulatory approval yet | Tumor cell proliferation inhibited up to 75%; normal cells stimulated +25% (Russian Academy of Sciences, 2020) | Russian Academy of Sciences; Xi'an Jiaotong University; Notre Dame |
| Dermatology & Wound Healing Most Clinically Advanced | Medical device certified (kINPen, Germany, 2013) | Anti-itch, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, tissue-stimulating, blood flow-enhancing effects documented in vivo and in vitro | INP Greifswald; Apix Medical (JP patent, 2023) |
| Dentistry & Oral Biofilm Emerging | Pre-clinical; safety characterization complete | He-APPJ promotes osteogenic differentiation via alkaline phosphatase activity (Seoul National University, 2021) | Yonsei University; Seoul National University |
| Sterilization & Infection Control Established | Applied in medical/dental device and agricultural contexts | Plasma inactivation of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and toxins on device surfaces (University of Tokyo, 2019) | University of Tokyo; Jiaying University |
Need the full assignee and jurisdiction breakdown?
PatSnap Eureka maps every plasma jet patent to its assignee, jurisdiction, filing date, and legal status in real time.
Five Emerging Directions in Plasma Jet Biomedical Innovation
Based on the most recent entries in this dataset, five forward-looking directions are identifiable for R&D teams and IP strategists monitoring the plasma medicine space.
AI-Driven Plasma Dosimetry and Adaptive Chemistry
George Washington University (2021) published the first application of artificial neural networks to real-time plasma chemistry diagnostics. Spontaneous emission spectroscopy feeds ANN to optimize RONS output adaptively. University of Notre Dame (2022) also deployed neural networks to predict plasma biological effects — enabling real-time closed-loop plasma medicine. This creates new patentable IP at the intersection of plasma physics and software.
Plasma-Activated Liquid as an Indirect Therapeutic Modality
The 2024 Tübingen medical device patent for PAL generation and the 2021 Ajou University PAL review signal a strategic pivot toward indirect plasma delivery — enabling plasma treatment of internal organs, post-surgical cavities, and intravenous or intrathecal routes previously inaccessible to jet devices. Formal patent coverage of PAL for internal medical applications is sparse: one 2024 active filing in the dataset. This represents an IP white space opportunity in US, EP, CN, and KR jurisdictions.
Plasma Robotics for Precision Oncology
Jiangnan University (2021) and the portable post-surgical CAP device from the National Innovation Center for Advanced Medical Devices, Shenzhen (2021), indicate convergence of cold plasma with autonomous and minimally invasive robotic platforms for in situ tumor treatment following resection. The field is moving toward macro- and micro-scale plasma robots combining CAP delivery with surgical precision for tumor therapeutics.
Fractionated and Patterned Plasma Skin Treatment
The Apix Medical Corporation patent (JP, 2023) for fractionated skin regeneration via spatially patterned CAP beam delivery through mask apertures parallels dermatological fractionated laser approaches — suggesting plasma jets are being positioned as alternatives or complements to ablative laser skin treatments. This is an active and commercially filed direction with a live patent in Japan.
Who Is Leading Plasma Jet Biomedical Innovation?
In this dataset, among literature-sourced results, Europe and the United States are the dominant research hubs by publication volume and institutional representation. Among patent filings, Japan leads in formal IP activity captured in the dataset. For teams conducting full competitive intelligence, PatSnap's IP analytics platform covers all major jurisdictions including CN, KR, and EP.
The Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald), Germany, is represented by at least 3 publications covering the kINPen device, plasma medicine technologies, and melanoma immunotherapy. The kINPen achieved medical device certification — the field's most significant commercialization milestone to date. The University of Antwerp (PLASMANT group) contributed 3 results covering COST jet applications, plasma-liquid systems, and stem cell modulation.
Among patent assignees, FUJI Corporation (Japan) holds 3 active JP patents covering automated optical dose verification systems for medical-grade plasma irradiation (2020–2023). Apix Medical Corporation (Japan) holds 1 active JP patent (2023) for fractionated skin regeneration. Eberhard Karls University Tübingen (Germany, filed JP, 2024) holds the most recent active filing — a medical device for PAL generation and postoperative adhesion prevention.
Notable emerging geography: Chinese institutions (Dalian University of Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Hefei, National Innovation Center for Advanced Medical Devices Shenzhen, Jiangnan University, Xi'an Jiaotong University) contribute significantly to the literature record, signaling growing PRC research investment in plasma medicine. For regulatory context, the European Patent Office and USPTO both classify plasma medicine devices under medical device and therapeutic apparatus classifications. PatSnap customers in life sciences use these classification codes to monitor competitor filings in real time.
Plasma Jet Biomedical Technology — key questions answered
Plasma jet biomedical technology exploits the unique properties of low-temperature, atmospheric-pressure, partially ionized gases to deliver reactive chemical and physical agents directly to biological targets without inducing thermal damage. Unlike thermal plasmas used in industrial processes, CAP jets operate at near-ambient temperatures (below 40°C), making them tissue-compatible. The core active agents include reactive oxygen species (ROS: hydroxyl radicals, hydrogen peroxide, singlet oxygen, ozone) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS: nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide), alongside UV photons, charged particles, and electric fields.
Cancer treatment is the most heavily researched application in this dataset, spanning in vitro selectivity studies, in vivo tumor reduction, and emerging immunogenic cell death mechanisms. Dermatology and wound healing is plasma medicine's first and most clinically advanced application domain — the kINPen jet obtained medical device certification specifically for chronic wound treatment. Other domains include dentistry and oral biofilm inactivation, surgical oncology, sterilization and infection control, stem cell and tissue engineering, and biomaterial surface functionalization.
Rather than direct plasma-tissue contact, the PAL approach irradiates aqueous media (saline, cell culture medium, water) with plasma jets to generate long-lived RONS-enriched liquids that are subsequently applied therapeutically. PAL extends plasma reach to anatomically inaccessible sites. A 2024 Tübingen medical device patent for PAL generation and a 2021 Ajou University PAL review signal a strategic pivot toward indirect plasma delivery — enabling plasma treatment of internal organs, post-surgical cavities, and intravenous or intrathecal routes previously inaccessible to jet devices.
Among literature-sourced results, Europe and the United States are the dominant research hubs by publication volume and institutional representation. Key institutions include the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald), Germany — represented by at least 3 publications; the University of Antwerp (PLASMANT group), Belgium — 3 results; Old Dominion University, USA — 3 results; and George Washington University, USA — 2 results. Among patent assignees, FUJI Corporation (Japan) holds 3 active JP patents covering automated optical dose verification systems.
Based on the most recent entries in this dataset (2022–2024), five forward-looking directions are identifiable: (1) AI-driven plasma dosimetry and adaptive chemistry using artificial neural networks with optical emission spectroscopy; (2) plasma-activated liquid (PAL) as an indirect therapeutic modality for anatomically inaccessible sites; (3) plasma robotics for precision oncology combining CAP delivery with autonomous surgical platforms; (4) fractionated and patterned plasma skin treatment as an alternative to ablative laser treatments; and (5) safety characterization and regulatory-grade dose verification systems as a prerequisite for broader medical device approval pathways.
The kINPen's medical device certification (2013, Germany) and the clinical accreditation of cold plasma for wound therapy remain the field's principal regulatory reference points. Entrants targeting cancer indications face a significantly longer and more complex regulatory path, as no plasma jet device has yet achieved oncology-specific regulatory approval in major markets. FUJI Corporation's JP patent family (2020–2023) for optical indicator-based automated plasma dose verification systems reflects regulatory pressure for reproducible, auditable plasma treatments in clinical settings.
Still have questions about plasma jet biomedical IP? Let PatSnap Eureka answer them for you.
Ask PatSnap Eureka Your Plasma QuestionsAccelerate Your Plasma Jet R&D and IP Strategy
Join 18,000+ innovators already using PatSnap Eureka to map technology landscapes, identify white spaces, and track competitor filings across plasma medicine and beyond.
References
- Comprehensive biomedical applications of low temperature plasmas — Indiana University School of Dentistry, 2020
- The 2022 Plasma Roadmap: Low Temperature Plasma Science and Technology — Osaka University, 2022
- A two-dimensional cold atmospheric plasma jet array for uniform treatment of large-area surfaces for plasma medicine — Dalian University of Technology, 2009
- FOCUS ON PLASMA MEDICINE — Max Planck Society, 2009
- 3D Mapping of plasma effective areas via detection of cancer cell damage induced by atmospheric pressure plasma jets — University of Notre Dame, 2014
- The kINPen — a review on physics and chemistry of the atmospheric pressure plasma jet and its applications — Leibniz Institute INP Greifswald, 2018
- Concepts and characteristics of the 'COST Reference Microplasma Jet' — Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 2016
- Effectiveness and safety of the PlasmaJet® Device in advanced stage ovarian carcinoma — Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, 2019
- Safety evaluation of atmospheric pressure plasma jets in in vitro and in vivo experiments — Seoul National University, 2021
- Low-Temperature Plasma Techniques in Biomedical Applications and Therapeutics: An Overview — Georgia Institute of Technology, 2023
- Inhibition of tumor cell proliferation in vitro using atmospheric-pressure plasma jet — Institute of High Current Electronics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 2020
- Current Status and Future Trends of Cold Atmospheric Plasma as an Oncotherapy — First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 2023
- Investigation of Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet Effects on the Treatment of Glioblastoma Using PET Imaging — Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, Iran, 2022
- Plasma Medicine: Applications of Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma in Dermatology — University Medical Center Rostock, 2019
- Applications of Plasma-Activated Liquid in the Medical Field — Ajou University, 2021
- Self-Adaptive Plasma Chemistry and Intelligent Plasma Medicine — George Washington University, 2021
- Plasma Robot Engineering: The Next Generation of Precision Disease Management — Jiangnan University, 2021
- Medical Gas Plasma Jet Technology Targets Murine Melanoma in an Immunogenic Fashion — INP Greifswald / ZIK Plasmatis, 2020
- Disinfection and Sterilization Using Plasma Technology: Fundamentals and Future Perspectives — University of Tokyo, 2019
- Effects of a Non-Thermal Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet with Different Gas Sources and Modes on the Fate of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells — University of Antwerp, 2019
- European Patent Office (EPO) — Medical Device Patent Classification
- United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) — Therapeutic Apparatus Classifications
- World Health Organization (WHO) — Emerging Medical Technologies
- American Physical Society (APS) — Plasma Physics Division
All data and statistics on this page are sourced from the references above and from PatSnap's proprietary innovation intelligence platform. This landscape is derived from a limited set of patent and literature records retrieved across targeted searches and represents a snapshot of innovation signals within this dataset only.
PatSnap Eureka searches patents and research to answer instantly.