Vibrating Anesthesia Device Tip Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for providing anesthesia before needle injections are often invasive, costly, and not easily accessible for self-administration or use by non-medical professionals, particularly for patients with needle phobia or those requiring frequent injections.
Innovation Solution
A hand-held device with a vibratory motor, LED light, and triangular body design that transmits vibrations through a curved tip to anesthetize the skin, providing a defined treatment zone and illuminating the needle insertion site, controlled by an internal circuit board and powered by a battery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional injectable local anesthetics are used, then effective pain relief is achieved, but the method becomes invasive, costly, and less accessible for self-administration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical mechanism of conventional local anesthetics with a mechanical vibration mechanism. The vibratory motor generates vibrations that are transmitted through the tip to the skin, producing anesthesia through mechanical stimulation of nerve fibers rather than chemical injection, thereby eliminating the need for needles and injectable medications.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed as a self-contained handheld unit with an integrated battery and motor system that can be easily operated by patients themselves. The simple on/off switch and ergonomic design enable self-administration without requiring medical training or professional assistance, making the anesthesia method accessible and convenient for home use.
2Ease of operation
If a handheld device is designed for easy gripping, then ease of operation is improved, but the housing size and component placement become more constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed with an asymmetric triangular cross-section rather than a symmetric cylindrical or rectangular shape. This asymmetric geometry provides natural ergonomic advantages for hand gripping, with flat surfaces that fit comfortably between the thumb and fingers, while also efficiently accommodating the internal arrangement of the motor, battery, and circuit board components.
Solution Approach 2:
The device transitions from a traditional longitudinal motor arrangement to a transverse motor configuration, with the motor positioned perpendicular to the vibration transmission axis. This dimensional reorientation allows for more flexible internal space utilization within the compact housing, enabling easy gripping while accommodating all necessary components.
3Measurement precision
If the tip is designed with a curved profile to define the treatment zone, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The curved tip design visually defines the treatment zone through its geometric shape, creating a clear visual boundary that guides proper application. The curved profile serves as a visual indicator of the anesthesia zone, allowing users to easily identify and target the correct treatment area without requiring complex markings or indicators.
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 reduces pain during medical procedures, is economical, safe, and easy to use, making it suitable for both medical professionals and patients, including those with physical limitations or needle phobia, by providing a non-invasive and efficient anesthesia method.
Implementation Method 1
Vibratory anesthesia is known in the medical industry as a method for temporarily numbing an area or zone on a patient prior to a medical procedure... The general concept behind such vibration anesthesia is the neuron transmitter depletion of alpha and C fibers of nerves which carry pain sensation
Implementation Method 2
The head of the housing also includes an LED to project a light beam onto the skin adjacent the tip so as to define and illuminate a treatment target
Data Source
AI summary
The hand-held vibration anesthesia tool of the present invention includes a housing in which a battery, vibratory motor, switch and light source are enclosed. A switch turns the motor and light on and off. A tip extends from the housing for touching a patient's skin. When the motor is actuated, vibrations are transmitted through the tip to the skin to create an anesthetized zone. The light defines a target for the needle or other treatment adjacent the tip.