Topical analgesia using electrical and vibration stimuli
First Claim
1. A method for providing topical analgesia during a procedure, comprising:
- attaching an electrode to a patient'"'"'s skin, the electrode having one or more conductive surfaces and at least one access point for allowing objects to pass through the at least one access point and into the patient'"'"'s skin;
attaching a module to the electrode;
generating, using the module, electrical energy in order to deliver an electrical stimuli through the electrode to the patient'"'"'s skin to provide an analgesic effect;
generating, using the module, vibration to create a vibration stimuli through the electrode to the patient'"'"'s skin to provide an additional analgesic effect; and
flipping down a flap hinged to the electrode over the at least one access point to act as a bandage dressing after the procedure is completed, wherein the electrode and flap remain on the patient to act as a bandage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is an electrode with one or more conductive surfaces and one or more access windows allowing needles, lancets and other similar objects to pass through or near the electrode and into the underlying skin layer. The electrode adheres to skin and surrounding mild electrical and vibration stimulation acts to mask the pain signals caused when sharp objects penetrate the skin. The stimulation is delivered by an attachable electrical unit designed to generate both the TENS and vibration stimuli while connected to the electrode. In addition, a flap which is attached to the electrode may serve as a bandage type dressing by flipping down over the access window(s) once the procedure is done. The present invention is an electrode with one or more electrically isolated conductive surfaces coupled to a TENS and vibration generating unit. It is designed to allow access to underlying skin and is meant to be easily produced, with the electrode being disposable after each patient use.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for providing topical analgesia during a procedure, comprising:
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attaching an electrode to a patient'"'"'s skin, the electrode having one or more conductive surfaces and at least one access point for allowing objects to pass through the at least one access point and into the patient'"'"'s skin; attaching a module to the electrode; generating, using the module, electrical energy in order to deliver an electrical stimuli through the electrode to the patient'"'"'s skin to provide an analgesic effect; generating, using the module, vibration to create a vibration stimuli through the electrode to the patient'"'"'s skin to provide an additional analgesic effect; and flipping down a flap hinged to the electrode over the at least one access point to act as a bandage dressing after the procedure is completed, wherein the electrode and flap remain on the patient to act as a bandage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for providing topical analgesia during a procedure, comprising:
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an electrode for attaching to a patient'"'"'s skin, the electrode having one or more conductive surfaces and one or more access points for allowing objects to pass through the access point and into the patient'"'"'s skin; a module, attachable to the electrode, for generating electrical energy in order to deliver an electrical stimuli through the electrode and to the patient'"'"'s skin to provide an analgesic effect; and a flap, hinged to the electrode, acting as a bandage dressing by flipping down over the one or more access points after the procedure is completed, wherein the electrode and flap remain on the patient to act as a bandage, wherein the electrode adheres to the patient'"'"'s skin and the electrical stimuli act to mask pain signals caused when the objects penetrate the patient'"'"'s skin. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for providing topical analgesia during a procedure, comprising:
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(a) an electrode comprising; (i) a non-conductive backing layer; (ii) an electrically conductive layer positioned against the non-conductive backing layer, the electrically conductive layer comprising a first conductive surface and a second conductive surface; (iii) an insulation component disposed between the first conductive surface and the second conductive surface; (iv) an electrically conductive adhesive layer positioned against the electrically conductive layer, the electrically conductive adhesive layer comprising a first conductive adhesive surface positioned against the first conductive surface and a second conductive adhesive surface positioned against the second conductive surface, wherein the electrically conductive adhesive layer is configured to be adherable to a patient'"'"'s skin; (v) at least one access point defined in the electrode, the at least one access point configured to allow objects to pass through the access point and into the patient'"'"'s skin; and (b) a stimulation module attachable to the electrode, the stimulation module configured to generate stimuli to mask the pain signals caused when objects penetrate the patient'"'"'s skin; and (c) a flap hingedly coupled to the non-conductive backing layer, the flap configured to move between an open position and a closed position wherein the flap is disposed over the at least one access point. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification