DEVICE FOR THE PLANAR TREATMENT OF AREAS OF HUMAN OR ANIMAL SKIN OR MUCOUS MEMBRANE SURFACES BY MEANS OF A COLD ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE PLASMA

1 . A device, comprising:

at least one flexible insulating material ( 1 );

a planar flexible high-voltage electrode ( 2 );

a flexible dielectric ( 3 );

a planar flexible grounded electrode ( 4 ); and

a gas supply ( 7 ),

wherein the flexible high-voltage electrode ( 2 ) is embedded in between the flexible insulating material ( 1 ) and the flexible dielectric ( 3 ), and the grounded electrode ( 4 ) is applied on a surface elastomer surface that faces a surface to be treated by the device, and

wherein the device generates a dielectric barrier surface discharge, to form a cold atmospheric pressure plasma.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the grounded electrode ( 4 ) is has a stripe structure or grid structure comprising interstices therein that remain open, so that the dielectric barrier surface discharge can form in the interstices.

3 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

an electrical connecting cable ( 5 ).

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible high-voltage electrode ( 2 ) is a metal gauze, a metal foil, a thin film comprising a metal, or a thin film comprising a conductive elastomer.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the grounded electrode ( 4 ) is a metal gauze, a stripe or grid structure film comprising a metal, or a stripe or grid film structure comprising a conductive elastomer.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the electrodes and dielectric comprise an elastic material and can be shaped to form a hollow body comprising a closed volume, and

wherein a plasma can be ignited both on the inside and the outside of the hollow body.

7 . The device of claim 6 , in the form of a silicone balloon.

8 . The device of claim 6 , in the form of at least one selected from the group consisting of a catheter, an endoscope, and a surgical instrument component.

9 . The device of claim 1 , which can be conformed flexibly to an arbitrarily curved surface.

10 . The device of claim 1 , in the form of a flexible cuff, a medical strip, or a wound covering.

11 . The device of claim 10 , in the form of an arm or a leg cuff.

12 . The device of claim 10 , in the form of a medical strip, wherein the medical strip comprises an adhesive point.

13 . The device of claim 10 , in the form of a wound covering, which covers a relatively large skin area and is fixed by an additional bandage.

14 . The device of claim 1 , comprising, as a power source:

a simple, inexpensive power-supply unit with small geometric dimensions, or

a battery.

15 . The device claim 14 , wherein the power-supply unit can optionally be operated in a pulsed mode of operation to regulate an intensity of the plasma.

16 . A method for treating skin or a mucous membrane, the method comprising:

generating a dielectric barrier surface discharge with an electrode system, to form a cold atmospheric pressure plasma; and

administering the plasma to the skin or a mucous membrane of a human or animal subject in need thereof,

wherein the electrode system comprises a flexible material, such that the electrode system can be conformed to a curved surface, and an outer, electrically conductive surface, which is structured as a grounded electrode, wherein a dielectric barrier surface discharge is generated in the interstices of the structure that remain open.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the electrodes and dielectric comprises an elastic material, and can be shaped to form hollow body comprising a closed volume, and

wherein a plasma is ignited both on the inside and the outside of the hollow body.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the generating is performed both at atmospheric pressure and at slight overpressure or underpressure, or with a gas mixture.

19 . A method for healing a wound, the method comprising:

generating a dielectric barrier surface discharge with the electrode system of claim 1 , to form a cold atmospheric pressure plasma; and

administering the plasma to a patient in need thereof.