Vibrating Retractor Tip for Injection Pain Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for reducing pain during tissue or skin puncturing procedures, such as injections, are either cumbersome, time-consuming, or ineffective in minimizing pain to a satisfactory level.
Innovation Solution
A handheld retractor vibrator with a disposable tip that vibrates the skin or tissue area at the injection site, using a unique vibration unit and a detachable tip with a bifurcation design to minimize pain by effectively distributing the injected liquid and preventing tissue distension, while also preventing tip reuse through a frangible interlock mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a very cold material is placed against the skin or flesh at the injection site, then pain is reduced to some extent, but the procedure becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanical vibration through a vibrator attached to the injection site that oscillates at high frequency during the injection procedure. This vibration mechanism disrupts pain signal transmission and reduces the perception of pain during skin puncturing, while being easily integrated into the injection workflow without requiring separate preparatory steps.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If topical treatment is applied to the skin or flesh at the injection site, then pain is temporarily reduced, but the treatment requires time to complete and has limited effect
Solution Approach 1:
The vibrator is activated immediately at the moment of injection, providing pain relief in advance and during the procedure itself. This preliminary action eliminates the need to wait for topical anesthetics to take effect, as the vibration mechanism provides immediate pain reduction starting from the moment it is engaged during the injection process.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If rapid manual massaging is performed on the skin or tissue at the injection site, then some pain reduction is achieved, but the procedure is cumbersome and of limited effect
Solution Approach 1:
The vibrator provides automated mechanical vibration that replaces manual massaging actions. The device generates controlled oscillatory movements at the injection site without requiring the operator to perform manual massage techniques, thereby reducing procedure complexity while maintaining effective pain reduction through consistent vibratory action.
4Device complexity
If a reusable tip is used, then device complexity is reduced, but hygiene standards cannot be maintained and tip reuse is possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable tip design that is discarded after a single use to ensure hygiene standards are maintained. The tip includes a frangible interlock mechanism that prevents reuse, and the entire tip assembly is inexpensive enough to replace after each procedure, thereby ensuring patient safety and hygiene without requiring complex cleaning or sterilization processes.
5Reliability
If the tip is designed with a frangible interlock mechanism, then tip reuse is prevented and hygiene is ensured, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tip is segmented into separate components including the tip body, shaft, and handle sections that can be independently disposed of. The frangible interlock mechanism divides the connection interface into distinct parts that engage during assembly but can be easily separated, allowing the tip to be discarded after single use while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that does not require complex sterilization infrastructure.
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 vibrating the tissue area simultaneously with the injection, ensuring effective distribution of the liquid and preventing tissue swelling, while the disposable tip design ensures hygiene and prevents reuse.
Implementation Method 1
a vibration unit mounted in the main body when initiated to cause the tip to vibrate in a unique and novel manner
Data Source
AI summary
An instrument, article and method are provided for minimizing pain during administration by injection of a liquid, such as, an anesthetic. The instrument has a forward end. A lightpipe mounted freely for vibration projects out of the forward end. The article, a single use tip, is composed of a tip sleeve removably mounted on the forward end of the instrument and a tip member removably mounted on the projecting lightpipe to vibrate a preselected injection site on a human or animal. The tip sleeve and tip member are covered by an elastic overmold that enables the tip member to vibrate freely with respect to the tip sleeve and light from the lightpipe to illuminate the injection site. A vibration unit mounted in the instrument is coupled to the lightpipe. The method is carried out by imparting vibrations and illumination via the lightpipe to the tip member.