TITLE:
Hemostasis Efficacy and Mechanism of Cold Atmospheric Air Plasma
AUTHORS:
Spencer Kuo
KEYWORDS:
Cold Atmospheric Air Plasma, Cold Atmospheric Plasma, Reactive Species, Reactive Oxygen Species, Atomic Oxygen, Trauma, Hemorrhage, Hemostasis, Animal Model, Swine, Blood Coagulation, Clotting
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Emergency Medicine,
Vol.9 No.3,
August
4,
2021
ABSTRACT: The capacity of a cold atmospheric-pressure air
plasma (CAAP) device for advanced first aid is presented. Using swine as an animal model, two trials: 1) a large, curved cut in hindquarters area and
2) amputation of a front leg, were performed.
Cold atmospheric-pressure air plasma effluent, which carries reactive
oxygen species (ROS) atomic oxygen (OI), is applied for wound treatments. Swift
hemostasis of the wounds by the CAAP treatment was demonstrated. The pressure
applied by a finger on the cut arteries in trial 1 and the tourniquet applied
in trial 2 could be removed immediately after the treatment and there was no
re-bleed in both cases. CAAP hemostasis mechanism was explored via in-vitro tests. The tests
on sodium citrate mixed blood-droplet samples show that 1) the heat
delivered by the CAAP has no impact on the observed clot formation, 2) plasma effluent
activates platelets to promote coagulation state and cascade, and 3) the degree
of clotting increases with the total amount of applied OI by means of the CAAP
effluent. It took only 16 s of the CAAP
treatment to reach full clotting, which was considerably shortened from the natural clotting time of about 25
minutes. The tests on smeared blood samples show that the reduction of
the platelet count and the increase of RBC count are proportional to the amount
of applied OI. A plausible CAAP hemostasis mechanism is concluded from the in
vitro test results and the animal model trials.