Disposable Vibration Tip with RFID Reuse Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for reducing pain during injections, such as using cold materials or topical treatments, are cumbersome and not always effective in eliminating pain, especially when administering anesthetics or vaccines.

Innovation Solution

A handheld device with a disposable tip that vibrates the skin or tissue at the injection site, using a motor-driven cam system to transmit vibrations through a light rod, which can be pulsed to maintain nerve stimulation and prevent habituation, while also incorporating a unique tip design to prevent reuse and ensure sterility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a disposable tip with usage control is used, then sterility and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases due to RFID tags and reader systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesterility assuranceVSAvoidelectronic control system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs disposable tips that are discarded after a single use to guarantee sterility and prevent cross-contamination. Each tip contains an RFID tag that stores usage information, ensuring that only new, sterile tips can be attached to the device. This disposable approach resolves the sterility requirement while the electronic control system manages tip lifecycle automatically.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The device incorporates a reader system that reads RFID tags on tips to verify tip authenticity and usage status. The system provides feedback by displaying tip information and preventing operation if a used or invalid tip is detected. This feedback mechanism ensures reliability by automatically enforcing sterility protocols without requiring complex manual verification procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If vibration amplitude is increased to improve pain relief, then therapeutic effect is improved, but nerve receptor habituation occurs reducing long-term effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepain relief effectivenessVSAvoidduration of nerve stimulation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The device implements pulsed vibration delivery rather than continuous vibration. The controller activates vibration in periodic pulses, allowing intervals between stimulation bursts. This periodic action prevents nerve receptor habituation by resetting receptor sensitivity during off-periods, maintaining pain relief effectiveness over extended treatment durations while delivering sufficient vibratory stimulus during active periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If usage monitoring is implemented to prevent reuse, then sterility is improved, but ease of operation is reduced due to additional verification steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of reuseVSAvoidtip attachment process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic verification of tip status through RFID reading when a tip is attached. The controller autonomously checks the tip's usage history and authenticity without requiring manual inspection or user intervention. This self-service approach maintains ease of operation by eliminating additional verification steps from the user's workflow while ensuring sterility through automated reuse prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 device significantly reduces pain during injections by effectively stimulating nerve receptors, minimizing discomfort, and ensuring hygiene through disposable tips that cannot be reused.

Implementation Method 1

a cam connected to the motor; the cam configured to transmit vibration to a distal end of the tip

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical vibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

the communication is carried out using an NFC protocol; the second antenna is connected to an interior surface of the tip; the communication is carried out using the ISO/IEC 14443A protocol

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3288615B1Controlling usage of replaceable tool ends
Publication Date: 2020.04.29 BING INNOVATIONS LLC
  • EP3288615B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3288615B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3288615B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

A device vibrates body tissue to reduce pain experience by the body tissue in a therapeutic procedure. The device includes a frame and a tip connectable to the frame which can be activated to produce vibration. An electromagnetic reader is connected to the frame and includes an antenna for sending and receiving electromagnetic radiation. An electromagnetic tag is connected to the removable tip, and also has an antenna for sending and receiving electromagnetic radiation in communication with the electromagnetic reader antenna. The antennas are disposed proximate to each other when the removable tip is connected to the frame, whereby the electromagnetic tag can transmit information to the electromagnetic reader.