Plasma deposition

Abstract

Aspects described herein pertain to restoring damaged portions of tooth or bone using plasma mediated deposition. In an embodiment, a biocompatible carrier gas is ionized to form a biocompatible atmospheric plasma stream. Restoration material, such as nano-scale powdered hydroxyapatite, is introduced into the plasma stream, which is then applied to a damaged portion of a bone or tooth. The restoration material is deposited on the damaged portion of the bone or tooth, thus restoring a shape and mechanical integrity of the bone or tooth.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 exciting a carrier gas to form an atmospheric plasma stream; and   introducing a material into the plasma stream to form a deposition stream; and   depositing the material on an application site by ejecting a plume of the deposition stream to the application site;   wherein the material is a nano-scale powder or a solution comprising a nano-scale powder.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the material comprises a metal. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising capturing images of depositing the material on the application site. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the restoration material that is deposited on the on the application site is deposited at a thickness of 0.001 mm to 0.1 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying to the application site, wherein the vacuum is at a pressure that is less than a pressure that would disrupt the restoration material that is deposited onto the application site but is high enough to enhance the step of directing the plasma stream onto the restoration material on the application site. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the material comprises a polymerizable material (or monomer). 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, the carrier gas is ambient air. 
     
     
         8 . A method for repairing a damaged bone or tooth, the method comprising:
 exciting a carrier gas to form an atmospheric plasma stream;   depositing a restoration material onto an application site; and then   directing a plasma stream onto the restoration material on the application site; wherein the application site is a damaged area of a tooth or bone;   wherein the restoration material comprises a nano-scale powder or a solution comprising a nano-scale powder of hydroxyapatite.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the plasma mediated deposition is conducted at a biocompatible temperature. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising restoring a shape and a mechanical integrity of the damaged portion of the bone or tooth with the restoration material. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising protecting biological material proximate to the damaged portion of the bone or tooth by vacating residue of the plasma mediated deposition, isolating the plasma mediated deposition from proximate biological material using a hood, shaping the plasma mediated deposition to conform to the damaged portion of the tooth or bone using a nozzle, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising crystallizing the restoration material when the plasma stream is directed onto the restoration material on the application site. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising applying a vacuum at the application site that is 0.99 atm to 0.01 atm. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 ionizing a material by subjecting the material to radiation, thereby optionally effecting polymerization;   wherein the material is a nano-scale powder or a solution comprising a nano-scale powder.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the material is hydroxyapatite, carbonated calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite with acid phosphate substitutions, calcium apatite, flourapatite, chlorapatite, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the material has a particle size of 500 nm to 40 micrometers. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the nano-scale powder is mixed with a carrier gas. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of ionizing the material causes polymerization of the material. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the material comprises a polymerizable material (or monomer). 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the material comprises a mineral.