Injection Pain Management Device with Skin Protrusions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for reducing pain and distress associated with injections, such as distraction techniques and TENS units, are either ineffective or not readily available for use during injections.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a body configured to be positioned around or proximal to an injection site, with stimulus elements such as protrusions that extend to contact the skin and provide stimulation, allowing for various forms of stimuli including chemical, thermal, physical, auditory, electrical, or visual.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If distraction techniques are used to reduce pain during injection, then patient anxiety is reduced, but pain is not effectively masked and fear reactions may still occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a physical intermediary device (the pain management device with protrusions) that mediates between the injection procedure and the patient's pain perception. The protrusions provide continuous tactile stimulation that acts as a mediator to block pain signals, rather than relying solely on psychological distraction techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces psychological distraction mechanisms with a physical mechanical stimulation system. The protrusions on the device provide tangible tactile feedback that mechanically engages the patient's sensory nerves, substituting the ineffective psychological distraction with a physical pain-blocking mechanism based on gate control theory.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If TENS units are used to stimulate sensory fibres and block pain signals, then pain relief is achieved, but the device is costly and not available for use with injections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential pain-blocking function from complex TENS units and incorporates it directly into the injection device itself. By taking out the core functionality (sensory stimulation) and integrating it into a simple handheld device with protrusions, the solution becomes cost-effective and immediately available at the point of injection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the pain management device universal by integrating the pain-blocking protrusions directly into the injection device housing. This multi-functional design allows the same device to both administer the injection and provide pain relief, eliminating the need for separate TENS units and reducing overall cost and complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If local application of pressure is used to reduce injection pain, then pain is reduced, but the healthcare professional requires a free hand to provide pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by designing the pain management device to automatically provide tactile stimulation through its protrusions without requiring the healthcare professional to manually apply pressure. The device serves itself by using the injection mechanism's own movement to activate the pain-blocking protrusions, freeing the professional's hands for other tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic elements where the protrusions can move or adjust during the injection process. The device adapts its stimulation pattern based on the injection phase, providing automatic pressure or stimulation that responds to the procedural dynamics without requiring manual intervention from the healthcare professional.
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 effectively masks or reduces pain impact on the user, allowing healthcare professionals to perform injections without the patient experiencing significant distress, while also enabling hands-free operation.
Implementation Method 1
Current studies have supported the gate control theory of pain awareness and transmission. Pain impulses are transmitted by through the spinal cord to the brain. Gate theory states that there is a gating mechanism in the spinal cord that acts to facilitate or inhibit transmission of pain signals to the brain. These 'gates' are effected by many things including stimulation of alternative sensory nerve fibres, such as those that respond to mechanical stimuli of touch and vibration.
Implementation Method 2
a first stimulus element in the form of at least one protrusion configured to extend beyond the operative face to contact the skin of the user around or proximal to the injection site and stimulate the skin of the user
Data Source
AI summary
A device for reducing the pain associated with an injection is described, including a body that is configured in use to be positioned around or proximal to an injection site while allowing a user to view the injection site while performing the injection, the body including an operative face configured to be placed against the skin of a user and having a stimulus element in the form of at least one protrusion configured to extend beyond the operative face to contact the skin of the user around or proximal to the injection site and stimulate the skin of the user.