Buffered Anesthetic Carpule With On-Demand pH Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Numbing anesthetics like lidocaine cause pain due to their acidic pH, necessitating a buffering solution to be mixed prior to injection, which is cumbersome and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A one-step anesthetic buffering carpule system that integrates sodium bicarbonate buffer within a carpule, activating it upon use to combine with anesthetic, providing a convenient and rapid delivery of buffered anesthetic through a carpule delivery system using a puncture unit and plunger mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a buffering solution is mixed into the anesthetic prior to injection, then injection pain is reduced and anesthetic effect takes effect quicker, but the process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the anesthetic solution and buffering solution into a single carpule container, eliminating the need for separate mixing steps. The buffer is pre-loaded in the same carpule as the anesthetic, allowing both components to be delivered simultaneously through one injection, thus reducing both preparation time and injection pain.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffering solution is pre-prepared and loaded into the carpule before use. This preliminary action eliminates the need for clinicians to mix the buffer at the moment of injection, saving time while ensuring the buffer is ready to immediately reduce injection pain when administered.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a buffering solution is mixed into the anesthetic prior to injection, then injection pain is reduced and anesthetic effect takes effect quicker, but the procedure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the buffer solution and anesthetic into a single integrated carpule system, eliminating the need for separate mixing procedures, multiple containers, and additional manual steps. This simplifies the overall device and procedure while maintaining the pain-reducing benefits of buffering.
Solution Approach 2:
The carpule is designed to automatically mix and deliver the buffer and anesthetic together without requiring external mixing equipment or complex manual procedures. The system serves itself by integrating both components in a single unit that requires no additional preparation steps beyond simple attachment to the syringe.
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
Facilitates quick and efficient delivery of buffered anesthetic, reducing injection pain and accelerating anesthetic effect by integrating a buffer directly into the carpule for immediate activation.
Implementation Method 1
The buffer is released when the buffer chamber is collapsed or otherwise activated by pressing the puncture unit. The puncture unit harpoons breach the thin bladder located on the bottom of a rubber plunger so as to combine the anesthetic and buffer compounds.
Implementation Method 2
A needle is mounted to the syringe, and the rubber plunger is pushed into the carpule so as to extrude the buffered anesthetic into a patient.
Data Source
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AI summary
A one-step anesthetic buffering carpule is advantageously disposed within a syringe so as to provide a pH-raising buffer that mixes with the carpule anesthetic just prior to injection. A puncture unit is disposed within a rubber plunger containing the buffer. The puncture unit is manually actuated to detach a rubber plunger seal so as to mix the buffer with the anesthetic.