The principal advantages of Apjet's technology is its far higher plasma density (20-1000X greater than other atmospheric pressure plasmas and vacuum-based plasmas) combined with simplicity of construction and operation. This superior performance permits us to be highly competitive in new markets and to gain market share where competitors are operating.

Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet technology offers several additional obvious advantages:

• It eliminates the need for vacuum operation, reducing process complexity, space and power requirements, and the need for vacuum maintenance.

• It is compatible with a much greater range of materials, since vacuum compatibility is not needed.

• Higher throughput results because there is no need for the transition between atmospheric pressure and vacuum and because of the fast process rates intrinsically possible with the APPJ® technology.

• Plasma treatment steps may be combined with traditional wet process steps.

• Contamination control measures may be more easily implemented in atmospheric pressure than in vacuum, especially control of particulate contamination.