Topical Cooling Device for Injection Pain Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pen needle and delivery devices cause pain and discomfort during injections due to the lack of effective methods for desensitizing the skin before needle or cannula penetration.
Innovation Solution
A cooling device that contacts the skin with a refrigerant medium, such as a refrigerant gel, to cool the surface to a temperature of 0-15°C, providing a desensitizing and numbing effect without causing injury, and is designed to be compact and reusable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If ice or a cold object is contacted with the injection target site, then pain and discomfort are reduced, but the cooling effect is insufficient and temporary
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling device is divided into distinct functional segments: an insulating container body, a refrigerant reservoir, and a skin-contacting surface. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally - the container maintains refrigerant temperature, the refrigerant provides sustained cooling, and the contact surface delivers the numbing effect to the injection site.
Solution Approach 2:
The device prepares the skin for injection by applying sustained cooling in advance, maintaining the skin at a numbing temperature (0-15°C) for an extended period before needle insertion. This preliminary cooling action desensitizes the skin and reduces pain perception, allowing the injection to occur with minimal discomfort.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the cooling device cools the skin to a low temperature, then desensitizing and numbing effects are achieved, but risk of skin freezing or damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device introduces an intermediary layer between the refrigerant and the skin - either an insulating barrier or a refrigerant gel - that mediates the heat transfer. This intermediary controls the cooling rate and maximum temperature reached, allowing the skin to be cooled to a numbing temperature without risking freezing or tissue damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The device carefully controls the temperature parameter within a safe range (0-15°C) that is sufficient for desensitization but above the freezing point of skin tissue. The insulating container and controlled refrigerant contact ensure the temperature remains in this optimal window, achieving pain relief without causing harm.
3Ease of operation
If a compact reusable cooling device is designed, then portability and cost-effectiveness are improved, but maintaining extended chilled state becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs a nested structure where the refrigerant reservoir is contained within the insulating container body. This compact nesting allows the cooling components to be stored together in a small, portable unit while maintaining the thermal insulation necessary for extended chilled state maintenance during transport and storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses a disposable refrigerant cartridge or pre-chilled refrigerant pack that can be replaced after use. This approach allows the expensive reusable insulating container to be paired with a low-cost consumable cooling element, making the overall system both portable and cost-effective while maintaining extended cooling capability.
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 cooling device effectively reduces pain and discomfort during injections by numbing the skin, maintaining a chilled state for extended periods, and is suitable for use with various medical devices like pen needles and infusion pumps.
Implementation Method 1
The cooling device has at least one contact surface that can be positioned against and directly contacting the target area of the skin of the patient to desensitize and cool the surface of the skin
Implementation Method 2
The container can be made of a thermally insulating material or constructed to maintain the refrigerant medium in a frozen, cooled, or chilled state for an extended period of time
Data Source
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AI summary
A topical cooling device for cooling and desensitizing the surface of the skin of a patient is provided that includes a thermally insulating container having at least one side wall, an open end and a closed end, and internal cavity. A thermally transmitting member is included for closing the open end of said container. A refrigerant medium is provided within the cavity of the container and in contact said thermally transmitting member for cooling the surface of the skin of a patient in contact with the thermally transmitting member. The refrigerant medium can be hypertonic aqueous sodium chloride solution. The thermally transmitting member can be flexible bladder that is received within the container where the refrigerant medium is thermally insulated by the container. A lid can be attached to the open end of the container to close the device until ready for use.