For generation of cold RF argon plasmas an electrosurgical handpiece was modified by replacement of the knife blade with a corona pin -this in turn was connected to a ForceTriad™ Energy Platform (Medtronic, Minneapolis, USA). The return electrode (Medtronic) was placed under a rubber return pad, with glass slides placed on top of the pad. The generator was run in 'coag' mode at power level 120, and the distance between the corona pin tip and the glass slide was 12 mm. A short length of polypropylene tubing with internal diameter of about 10 mm was used to direct a flow of argon gas from the tip, with the tip itself slightly protruding (Figure ). The handpiece was connected to the monopolar socket of a radiofrequency alternating current generator. Glass slides with dry standards spotted onto were placed on top of a dispersive grounding pad connected to the generator. The activation of the device with 0.1 bar argon flowing generated a purple plasma, which covered a roughly 30 mm diameter area directly below the corona tip (Figure ).