Methods and devices for the treatment and prevention of malignancy in enteric diseases using non-thermal plasma

1. A method for treating an enteric disease comprising:

determining a location for treating the enteric disease within a patient;

placing a probe proximate to the location, wherein the probe is configured to generate a non-thermal plasma upon application of a potential;

applying a potential to the probe to generate the non-thermal plasma, wherein the non-thermal plasma comes in contact with the location; and

removing the potential after a period of time to end treatment.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the enteric disease is Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the probe is comprised of:

a first conduit comprising a lumen and a tip;

a first electrode disposed within the lumen of the first conduit;

a second electrode comprised of a metal conduit disposed within the first conduit;

an insulator disposed within the lumen of the first conduit, the insulator configured to electrically insulate the first electrode from the second electrode; and

a gas channel disposed between the outer surface of the metal conduit and the inner surface of the first conduit, the gas channel being capable of feeding a gas from a gas source to the tip, wherein when the potential is applied, the gas is ionized to produce the non-thermal plasma.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first conduit is flexible.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first conduit is a plastic or glass.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the gas is compressed air.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the period of time is four seconds, thirty seconds, or 60 seconds.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the potential is about 0.5 kV to about 1 kV.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein a pulse duration of the potential is 50 ms.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the power of a pulse of the potential is about 0.1 W to 0.2 W.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the treatment continues for 7 days.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a drug to supplement the plasma.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the drug is 5-Amino-Salicylic Acid.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the treatment location is the mucosa and sub-mucosa of the colon.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein placing a probe proximate to the treatment location comprises inserting the probe through a patient's anus.

16. An apparatus for treating an enteric disease, comprising:

a first conduit comprising a lumen and a tip, the first conduit being flexible;

a first electrode disposed within the lumen of the first conduit;

a second electrode comprised of a metal conduit disposed within the first conduit;

an insulator disposed within the lumen of the first conduit, the insulator configured to electrically insulate the first electrode from the second electrode; and

a gas channel disposed between the outer surface of the metal conduit and the inner surface of the first conduit, the gas channel being capable of feeding a gas from a gas source to the tip, wherein when the potential is applied, the gas is ionized to produce the non-thermal plasma.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the first conduit is a plastic or glass.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the gas is compressed air.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the period of time is four seconds, thirty seconds, or 60 seconds.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the potential is about 0.5 kV to about 1 kV.

21. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein a pulse duration of the potential is 50 ms.

22. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the power of a pulse of the potential is about 0.1 W to 0.2 W.