Means and method to painlessly puncture skin

• US 20120302939A1
• Filed: 05/26/2011
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pourang Bral
• Original Assignee: Pourang Bral
• Inventors: Bral, Pourang
• Granted Patent: US 10,226,586 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/422 Desensitising skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain

Abstract

A means and a method is disclosed to diminish or eliminate the pain associated with a sharp object penetrating the skin, during such procedures as an injection, biopsy, or deriving a blood sample. To this end, repeated tapping, pressing, or rubbing is performed over the skin at or near the site of penetration of the sharp object in conjunction with applying electricity on the skin. The invention discloses a method of using a skin-puncturing means, with enhanced features, to provide local anesthesia at the site of penetration of a sharp object.

Claims

1. A skin-puncturing means to painlessly puncture the skin including a sharp object that can puncture the skin, a plurality of electrodes electrically connected to, and receiving electrical impulses from, an electric source included in said skin-puncturing means, and transmitting electrical impulses to the skin in the vicinity of the skin puncture site, while facilitating to tap, to rub, or to press on the skin at or around the puncture site.

2. A skin-puncturing means according to claim 1 in which said electrical source generates electrical impulses similar to a TENS unit.

3. A skin-puncturing means according to claim 1 which is an auto-injection syringe.

4. A skin-puncturing means according to claim 1 including a plurality of springs attached to said skin-puncturing means and connected to and positioned to press a plurality of said electrodes to the skin so as to maintain an electrical contact between a plurality of said electrodes and the skin and to transmit electrical impulses to the skin before, during, or after back-and-forth movements of said skin-puncturing means away and towards the skin in a manner to produce tapping or pressure sensation on the skin.

5. A skin-puncturing means according to claim 4 including a retractable handle with which to tap said skin-puncturing means onto the skin at or around the puncture site.

6. A skin-puncturing means according to claim 1 including a plurality of extensions containing a plurality of said electrodes;

said plurality of extensions being positioned so as to form a clear space away from said skin-puncturing means, between at least two said electrodes on said skin-puncturing means to facilitate tapping, rubbing, or applying pressure on the skin in between said at least two electrodes.

7. A skin-puncturing means according to claim 6 in which at least one said extension is retractable into or next to the body of said skin-puncturing means to give a compact appearance to the skin-puncturing means.

8. A skin-puncturing means according to claim 1 in which a plurality of said electrodes are so positioned as to electrically contact, and apply electrical impulses to, the skin while said skin-puncturing means is tapped on or pressed on in a manner that said skin-puncturing means transmits the tapping or pressure sensation to the skin.

9. A skin-puncturing means according to claim 8 including a plurality of projections, generally directed towards the skin when said electrodes are facing the skin, that enhance the transmission of the tapping or pressure sensations to the skin.

14. A skin-puncturing means according to claim 1 including a plurality of springs attached to said skin-puncturing means and connected to and positioned to press a plurality of said electrodes to the skin so as to maintain an electrical contact between a plurality of said electrodes and the skin and to transmit electrical impulses to the skin before, during, or after back-and-forth movements of said skin-puncturing means side to side on the skin in a manner to produce a rubbing sensation on the skin.

15. A skin-puncturing means according to claim 1 in which a plurality of said electrodes are so positioned as to electrically contact, and apply electrical impulses to, the skin while said skin-puncturing means is moved on the skin side to side in a manner that said skin-puncturing means transmits a rubbing sensation to the skin.

16. A skin-puncturing means according to claim 15 in which a plurality of said electrodes are forced out towards the skin by a plurality of electrode springs to enhance electrical connections between said plurality of electrodes and skin during the side to side movement of said skin-puncturing means.

10. A method to provide local anesthesia by tapping or pressing on a plurality of electrodes, that apply electrical impulses to the skin in the vicinity of a skin puncture site, in a manner that the tapping sensation or pressure is transmitted to the skin.

11. A method to painlessly insert a sharp object into the skin, or skin and the underlying tissues, that 1) uses a skin-puncturing means comprising an electrical source electrically connected to a plurality of electrodes that can electrically come in contact with, and transmit an electrical impulse to, the skin adjacent to the puncture site;

2) employs tapping or applying pressure to the skin area adjacent to or at the puncture site before, during, or after the transmission of electrical impulses, and

     3) calls for subsequently inserting said sharp object into the skin.

12. A method according to claim 11 in which said skin-puncturing means includes said sharp object.

13. A method according to claim 11 in which one taps on, or presses on, said skin-puncturing means in a manner in which said skin-puncturing means transmits the tapping or the pressure sensations to the skin.

17. A method of obtaining local anesthesia by rubbing the skin before, during, or after applying electrical impulses to the skin in the area of skin puncture.