Method and means for pain-free dental injections

• US 6,560,975 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2000
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leonard Weldon
• Original Assignee: Leonard Weldon
• Inventors: Weldon, Leonard
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zec, Filip
• Application Number:
  US09/717,188
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 604/117, 604/112
• US Class Current: 62/117
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3202 Devices for protection of the needle before use, e.g. caps A61M5/50 takes precedence; for infusion spikes A61M5/1626; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/46 having means for controlling depth of insertion

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dental method and means to allow pain-free injections in mucosa by the application of a topical anesthetic followed by an injection limited to penetrate the mucosa only to the extent of penetration of the topical anesthetic. The method is accomplished by applying a topical anesthetic to the desired mucosal area, and following the topical application with an injection, which penetrates the tissues only to the extent of penetration of the topical anesthetic. Various devices of fixed length are described which limit the penetration of the injection such as a drastically truncated syringe needle, a sheath fitted to and covering the needle, a needle shield, and a speculum.

Claims

1. A method for pain-free injections in mucosal tissues comprising:

applying topical anesthetic to an area of mucosal tissues;

allowing penetration into said area by said topical anesthetic; and

injecting into said area no deeper than said penetration by said topical anesthetic.

2. A method for pain-free injections in mucosal tissues comprising:

abrading an area of mucosal tissue;

applying a topical anesthetic to said area;

allowing penetration into said area by said topical anesthetic; and

injecting into said area no deeper than said penetration by said topical anesthetic.

3. A device for controlling the depth of penetration of a needle comprising:

a cannula/hub assembly, comprising;

a hub, having;

a front end;

a rear end, said rear end formed to facilitate the attachment of a syringe

body thereto; and

a passage extending therethrough said hub between said front end and said rear end;

a hollow cannula, having;

an end attached to said front end of said hub; and

an opposite bevel end, said opposite bevel end of which is open and sharpened for insertion into the mucosa;

a sheath, said sheath having;

a proximal end, said proximal end being removably attached to said front end of said hub;

a distal end, said distal end being located a distance from said opposite bevel end of said cannula; and

a length, said length extending to said distance from said opposite bevel end of said cannula, said distance being equal to but not greater than the depth of penetration of the topical anesthetic into the mucosa.

4. A device as described in claim 3, further comprising:

a hollow syringe cap, having;

a proximal end, said proximal end being removably attached to said front end of said hub, and covering said sheath;

a distal end, said distal end being located a distance beyond said opposite bevel end of said cannula; and

a length, said length extending beyond said opposite bevel end of said cannula, said length being greater than the length of said cannula.

5. A device for controlling the depth of penetration of a needle comprising:

a cannula/hub assembly, comprising;

a hub, having;

a front end;

a rear end, said rear end formed to facilitate the attachment of a syringe body thereto; and

a passage extending therethrough said hub between said front end and said rear end;

a hollow cannula, having;

an end attached to said front end of said hub;

an opposite bevel end, said opposite bevel end of which is open and sharpened for insertion into the mucosa; and

a length no greater than the depth of penetration of a topical anesthetic into mucosal tissue.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said length of said hollow cannula is no greater than 1.5 mm.

7. A device for controlling the depth of penetration of a needle comprising:

a cannula/hub assembly, comprising;

a hub, having;

a front end;

a rear end, said rear end formed to facilitate the attachment of a syringe body thereto; and

a passage extending therethrough said hub between said front end and said rear end;

a hollow cannula, having;

an end attached to said front end of said hub; and

an opposite bevel end, said opposite bevel end of which is open and sharpened for insertion into the mucosa;

a guard partially covering said hollow cannula, comprising;

a hub collar having;

a collar end removably attached to said front end of said hub; and

a shaft end;

a guard shaft, having

a collar attachment end, said attachment collar end attached to said shaft end of said hub collar;

a shield attachment end;

a length, equal to the length of the needle minus the extent of penetration of the topical anesthetic; and

a needle shield, having

a guard shaft end, said guard shaft end attached to said shield attachment end of said guard shaft; and

an opening to allow passage of said cannula.

8. Speculum for controlling the depth of penetration of a needle comprising:

a hollow speculum shaft, having a proximal end, a distal end, and a length;

a handle, said handle attached to said proximal end of said hollow speculum shaft;

a needle port to allow passage of the hypodermic syringe cannula, said needle port comprising an opening in said distal end of said hollow speculum shaft; and

a needle stop, located inside said hollow speculum shaft and attached thereto at a distance from said needle port equal to or greater than the length of the needle minus the depth of penetration of the topical anesthetic into the mucosa.