Micro-needle array with spheroid container for painless dental anesthesia
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional needle and syringe configurations for injecting local anesthetics can cause fear and anxiety in patients, leading to avoidance of medical procedures due to the visible and intimidating nature of the equipment.
Innovation Solution
A micro-needle device with a disk-shaped base and a hollow spheroid container that allows for the delivery of local anesthetic without a traditional needle, featuring a micro-needle array and a pressure-sensitive adhesive for discreet handling and insertion, reducing the visibility and intimidation of the injection process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a traditional needle and syringe configuration is used to deliver local anesthetic, then the injection can be effectively delivered, but the patient experiences fear, anxiety, and negative reactions due to the visible and intimidating nature of the equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the traditional syringe-needle system into a multi-component array structure with multiple micro-needles arranged in a grid pattern on a flat base, eliminating the need for a traditional syringe barrel and plunger mechanism that causes patient anxiety
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the intimidating syringe barrel and plunger components from the delivery system, retaining only the essential needle function through flat micro-needles mounted on a discreet base, thereby eliminating the visual triggers of needle phobia while maintaining anesthetic delivery capability
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a traditional needle is used for injection, then the anesthetic can be delivered effectively, but the injection becomes more painful and traumatic than the actual procedure
Solution Approach 1:
The device applies local quality by using extremely fine micro-needles with diameters of 10-100 micrometers that are too small to be seen by the naked eye, allowing penetration of oral tissues with minimal pain and trauma while maintaining effective anesthetic delivery to the target area
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the critical parameter of needle diameter from traditional visible sizes to microscopic dimensions of 10-100 micrometers, fundamentally altering the patient experience from painful and traumatic to barely perceptible while preserving the reliability of anesthetic delivery through the array configuration
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a micro-needle array is used instead of a traditional needle, then patient fear and anxiety are reduced, but the device requires a more complex delivery mechanism to activate the micro-needles
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs preliminary action by pre-positioning multiple micro-needles in a ready-to-deploy configuration on a flat base, allowing rapid activation through simple pressure application without requiring complex mechanical assembly or adjustment during the procedure
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the complex mechanical syringe plunger and piston system with a simple pressure-activated mechanism where direct compression of the base causes controlled extension of the micro-needles, significantly simplifying the activation mechanism while maintaining effective anesthetic delivery
4Ease of operation
If the micro-needle device is made discreet to reduce patient anxiety, then patient cooperation improves, but the visibility of the device for proper positioning and insertion is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The device utilizes color changes and visual indicators on the base structure to provide clear feedback on device positioning and insertion depth, maintaining patient cooperation through a discreet appearance while ensuring proper alignment and placement through visible markers that do not trigger needle phobia
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 micro-needle device minimizes negative reactions in patients with needle phobia by providing a less intimidating and more discreet method for delivering local anesthetics, allowing for safer and more cooperative dental procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The wall of the hollow spheroid shaped container is formed of a polymer that elastically deforms under a compressive force applied to the outer surface of the hollow spheroid shaped container. So, the outer surface of the hollow spherical container can, under the compressive force applied to the outer surface of the hollow spheroid shaped container, changes from having a convex shape to having a concave shape.
Implementation Method 2
The outer surface of the hollow spherical container may also include a pressure sensitive adhesive for retaining the micro-needle device on a user's finger.
Implementation Method 3
The second major surface of the base can includes a compressible coat surrounding the micro-needles, the compressible coat formed from a foamed elastic material and having an outer surface, where the compressible coat changes shape under a compressive force to allow the micro-needles to extend beyond the outer surface of the compressible coat.
Data Source
AI summary
A micro-needle device for delivering a dental local anesthetic that includes a micro-needle array and a hollow spheroid shaped container. The micro-needle array has a base and two or more elongate micro-needles. The elongate micro-needles have an interior surface defining an opening through the elongate micro-needle and the base has a first major surface and a second major surface through which the opening of the elongate micro-needle passes to provide a passage across the base. The hollow spheroid shaped container includes an inside surface, where the first major surface of the base and the inside surface of the hollow spheroid shaped container define a volume that is in fluid connection with each opening of the two or more of the elongate micro-needle. This allows the dental local anesthetic to flow from the volume of the micro-needle device through the opening of the two or more of the elongate micro-needle.