CPC A61B 1/127 (2013.01) [G02B 1/18 (2015.01); G02B 27/0006 (2013.01); H05H 1/2406 (2013.01); A61L 2/14 (2013.01); A61L 2202/24 (2013.01); H05H 2245/30 (2021.05)] | 20 Claims |
1. A device for inhibiting condensation distortion on an optical element of a medical instrument configured for insertion into a body cavity, the device comprising:
a housing;
a cavity within the housing, the cavity being configured to removably retain at least a portion of the medical instrument therein, wherein the at least a portion of the medical instrument includes the optical element;
a plasma activation zone within the cavity, wherein the cavity within the housing is configured to retain the at least a portion of the medical instrument within the cavity in a manner orienting an outer surface of the optical element within the plasma activation zone, to thereby enable plasma treatment of the outer surface of the optical element;
a plasma generator configured to be activated to cause formation of a plasma cloud in the plasma activation zone in a vicinity of the outer surface of the optical element, thereby enabling treatment of the outer surface of the optical element with plasma; and
a controller configured to activate the plasma generator for a time period sufficient to cause the optical element to become hydrophilic prior to insertion into the body cavity.
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