Arcuate Medical Testing Device with Alternating Blunt Reed Tips
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical testing procedures, such as allergy testing, often cause discomfort and inflammation due to the use of single needles or lances that penetrate the skin, leading to delayed reactions and potential pain during the testing process.
Innovation Solution
A medical testing apparatus featuring an arcuate rail with alternating blunt and reed tips that penetrate the skin, allowing for uniform pressure distribution and minimizing discomfort through a discomfort dispersal system that alternates between blunt and reed tips, ensuring only one to three tips contact the skin at a time, and utilizing a capillary effect for fluid delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single needle or lance is used to penetrate the skin for testing, then the testing procedure can be performed, but patient discomfort and inflammation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single penetrating element is divided into multiple tips (at least three tips arranged in a triangular pattern) that collectively perform the testing function. Each tip delivers testing agent independently, distributing the mechanical stress and chemical delivery across multiple contact points, thereby reducing trauma and discomfort per individual tip while maintaining effective testing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The tips are designed with different local properties: some tips have porous structures for fluid delivery, others have different surface treatments or geometries. This allows optimization of each tip's function while collectively reducing overall trauma compared to a single aggressive penetrating element
2Area of stationary object
If multiple tips contact the skin simultaneously, then testing coverage is improved, but the number of traumatized skin cells increases
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus is designed with multiple tips (at least three) but the spacing and geometry are configured so that in normal use, only a limited number of tips (ideally one to three) actually contact and penetrate the skin at any given moment. This provides sufficient testing coverage through the arrangement of tips while preventing excessive trauma that would result from all tips contacting simultaneously
3Measurement precision
If testing agents are delivered through penetrating lances, then skin cell reaction can be observed, but delayed reactions and pain occur
Solution Approach 1:
The tips are pre-loaded with testing agents in reservoirs or capillary structures before patient contact. The porous tip structures are pre-saturated or prepared to immediately release the testing agent upon skin contact, eliminating delays associated with separate agent application steps and enabling faster observation of skin cell reactions
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus reduces patient discomfort and pain by distributing pressure uniformly and allowing for efficient delivery of testing agents, while enabling clear observation of skin reactions with minimal trauma, thus improving the overall testing experience.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a capillary effect for fluid delivery
Data Source
AI summary
A medical testing apparatus and method of use for penetrating a patient's tissue with an agent, the apparatus comprises an arcuate rail having spaced first and second sides supported by upper and lower arcuate surfaces and an arcuate handle having first and second ends extending from the upper surface of the arcuate rail. A plurality of tips extend substantially from and normally outward as the lower arcuate surface. The plurality of tips comprises alternating blunt tips and reed tips.