Apparatus and method for plasma treatment of small diameter tubes

Claim 1

An apparatus for applying a plasma to an interior wall of a plastic article comprising: a) a housing having first and second chambers separated by a diaphragm defining an aperture for receiving an article to be plasma treated; b) a dielectric within said first chamber having a bore therethrough, said bore including a cavity in the interior of said dielectric and a plasma zone for receiving said article; c) an electrode positioned in said cavity and surrounded by said dielectric in all directions except toward said plasma zone and defining said plasma zone; d) means for opening and sealably closing said housing; e) means for delivering power to said electrode; f) means for conducting a gas to said first chamber; and g) means for connecting said second chamber to a vacuum source.

Claim 2

An apparatus for applying a plasma to an interior wall of a plastic article comprising: a) a housing having first and second chambers separated by a diaphragm defining an aperture for receiving an article to be plasma treated; b) a dielectric within said first chamber having a bore therethrough, said bore including a cavity in the interior of said dielectric and a plasma zone for receiving said article; c) an electrode positioned in said cavity and surrounded by said dielectric in all directions except toward said plasma zone and defining said plasma zone; d) means for opening and sealably closing said housing; e) means for delivering power to said electrode; f) means for conducting a gas to said first chamber; and g) means for connecting said second chamber to a vacuum source.

Claim 6

An apparatus for applying a plasma to an interior wall of a non-conductive article comprising: a) a housing enclosing a chamber; b) shielding means within said chamber having a bore therethrough, said bore including a cavity and a plasma zone for receiving an article to be plasma treated; c) generating means for an electromagnetic field in said cavity and surrounded by said shielding means in all directions except toward said plasma zone; d) means for opening and sealably closing said housing; e) means for delivering power to said generating means; f) means for conducting a gas to said chamber; and g) means for connecting said chamber to a vacuum source.

Claim 7

An apparatus for applying a plasma to an interior wall of a non-conductive article comprising: a) a housing enclosing a chamber; b) shielding means within said chamber having a bore therethrough, said bore including a cavity and a plasma zone for receiving an article to be plasma treated; c) generating means for an electromagnetic field in said cavity and surrounded by said shielding means in all directions except toward said plasma zone; d) means for opening and sealably closing said housing; e) means for delivering power to said generating means; f) means for conducting a gas to said chamber; and g) means for connecting said chamber to a vacuum source.

Claim 8

An apparatus for applying a plasma to the luminal wall of a plastic tube comprising: a) a canister having a side wall, a top wall and a diaphragm, said diaphragm dividing said canister into an upper chamber and a lower chamber and defining an aperture; b) a dielectric within said upper chamber, said dielectric having a bore therethrough, said bore communicating through said aperture with said upper and lower chambers, said bore including a cavity in the interior of said dielectric and a plasma zone for receiving a tube to be plasma treated; c) a plurality of electrodes positioned in said cavity and surrounded by said dielectric in all directions except toward said plasma zone and defining said plasma zone therebetween; d) means for opening and sealably closing said canister; e) a conduit through said diaphragm for maintaining a pressure differential between said upper and lower chambers; f) drawing means passing sealably through said top wall; g) means for delivering electrical power to said electrodes; h) an inbleed assembly for conducting gas into said upper chamber; and i) a nozzle for connecting said lower chamber to a vacuum source.

Claim 9

An apparatus for applying a plasma to the luminal wall of a plastic tube comprising: a) a canister having a side wall, a top wall and a diaphragm, said diaphragm dividing said canister into an upper chamber and a lower chamber and defining an aperture; b) a dielectric within said upper chamber, said dielectric having a bore therethrough, said bore communicating through said aperture with said upper and lower chambers, said bore including a cavity in the interior of said dielectric and a plasma zone for receiving a tube to be plasma treated; c) a plurality of electrodes positioned in said cavity and surrounded by said dielectric in all directions except toward said plasma zone and defining said plasma zone therebetween; d) means for opening and sealably closing said canister; e) a conduit through said diaphragm for maintaining a pressure differential between said upper and lower chambers; f) drawing means passing sealably through said top wall; g) means for delivering electrical power to said electrodes; h) an inbleed assembly for conducting gas into said upper chamber; and i) a nozzle for connecting said lower chamber to a vacuum source.

Claim 10

An apparatus for applying a plasma to the luminal wall of a plastic tube comprising: a) a housing having a first chamber and a second chamber separated by a diaphragm defining an aperture for receiving a tube to be plasma treated, a first end plate removably affixed to said housing defining said first chamber and a second end plate affixed to said housing and defining said second chamber; b) a dielectric within said first chamber, said dielectric having a bore therethrough, said bore including a cavity in the interior of said dielectric and a plasma zone for receiving said tube; c) a plurality of electrodes positioned in said cavity and surrounded by said dielectric in all directions except toward said plasma zone and defining said plasma zone therebetween; d) mating upper and lower support rails for said tube within said first chamber and passing through said bore, said dielectric being slidably mounted on said rails; e) means for removably mating said upper and lower rails; f) a conduit through said diaphragm for maintaining a pressure differential between said first and second chambers; g) means for moving said dielectric on said rails; h) means for delivering electrical power to said electrodes; i) an inbleed assembly for conducting gas into said first chamber; and j) a nozzle for connecting said second chamber to a vacuum source.

Claim 11

An apparatus for applying a plasma to the luminal wall of a plastic tube comprising: a) a housing having a first chamber and a second chamber separated by a diaphragm defining an aperture for receiving a tube to be plasma treated, a first end plate removably affixed to said housing defining said first chamber and a second end plate affixed to said housing and defining said second chamber; b) a dielectric within said first chamber, said dielectric having a bore therethrough, said bore including a cavity in the interior of said dielectric and a plasma zone for receiving said tube; c) a plurality of electrodes positioned in said cavity and surrounded by said dielectric in all directions except toward said plasma zone and defining said plasma zone therebetween; d) mating upper and lower support rails for said tube within said first chamber and passing through said bore, said dielectric being slidably mounted on said rails; e) means for removably mating said upper and lower rails; f) a conduit through said diaphragm for maintaining a pressure differential between said first and second chambers; g) means for moving said dielectric on said rails; h) means for delivering electrical power to said electrodes; i) an inbleed assembly for conducting gas into said first chamber; and j) a nozzle for connecting said second chamber to a vacuum source.

Claim 12

A method for treating a luminal wall of a tube with a plasma comprising: a) positioning a tube in a plasma zone adjacent a plurality of electrodes, said electrodes being encased in a dielectric in a housing enclosing a chamber; b) evacuating said chamber; c) bleeding a gas into said chamber, said gas contacting a luminal wall of said tube; and d) delivering radiofrequency power to said electrodes, said power developing an electromagnetic field, said field ionizing said gas in contact with said luminal wall, said ionizing causing a plasma, said plasma treating said luminal wall.

Claim 13

A method for treating a luminal wall of a tube with a plasma comprising: a) positioning a tube in a plasma zone adjacent a plurality of electrodes, said electrodes being encased in a dielectric in a housing enclosing a chamber; b) evacuating said chamber; c) bleeding a gas into said chamber, said gas contacting a luminal wall of said tube; and d) delivering radiofrequency power to said electrodes, said power developing an electromagnetic field, said field ionizing said gas in contact with said luminal wall, said ionizing causing a plasma, said plasma treating said luminal wall.