Apparatus for reducing pain during skin-puncturing procedures
First Claim
1. An instrument for minimizing pain associated with a skin-puncturing procedure, the instrument comprising:
- an elongated, main body having a forward end;
a lightpipe for illumination and vibration, the lightpipe mounted within an interior of the elongated, main body and having a projected end, the projected end projecting out of an interior of the forward end of the elongated, main body and projecting light therefrom;
a tip having;
a) a tip sleeve removably mounted on the forward end of the elongated, main body;
b) a tip member rigidly and removably mounted on the projected end of the lightpipe, the tip member having a shape to vibrate a defined, pre-selected skin-puncturing site on a human or animal; and
(c) an annular space between the tip sleeve and the tip member;
an elastic overmold molded to a shape of the tip and connecting the tip sleeve and the tip member, the elastic overmold extending from a free end of the tip member to a forward end of the tip sleeve and filling the annular space between the tip sleeve and the tip member, whereby the annular space isolates the tip member from the tip sleeve enabling the tip member to vibrate relative to the tip sleeve and allowing light from the lightpipe to illuminate the defined, pre-selected skin-puncturing site; and
a vibration unit mounted within the interior of the elongated, main body and coupled with the lightpipe to impart vibrations via the lightpipe to the tip member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
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.
72 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An instrument for minimizing pain associated with a skin-puncturing procedure, the instrument comprising:
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an elongated, main body having a forward end;
a lightpipe for illumination and vibration, the lightpipe mounted within an interior of the elongated, main body and having a projected end, the projected end projecting out of an interior of the forward end of the elongated, main body and projecting light therefrom;a tip having; a) a tip sleeve removably mounted on the forward end of the elongated, main body; b) a tip member rigidly and removably mounted on the projected end of the lightpipe, the tip member having a shape to vibrate a defined, pre-selected skin-puncturing site on a human or animal; and (c) an annular space between the tip sleeve and the tip member; an elastic overmold molded to a shape of the tip and connecting the tip sleeve and the tip member, the elastic overmold extending from a free end of the tip member to a forward end of the tip sleeve and filling the annular space between the tip sleeve and the tip member, whereby the annular space isolates the tip member from the tip sleeve enabling the tip member to vibrate relative to the tip sleeve and allowing light from the lightpipe to illuminate the defined, pre-selected skin-puncturing site; and a vibration unit mounted within the interior of the elongated, main body and coupled with the lightpipe to impart vibrations via the lightpipe to the tip member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A disposable tip for use with an instrument that includes a vibration unit and a lightpipe that is vibrated by the vibration unit, the lightpipe projecting out a forward end of the instrument, the disposable tip comprising:
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a) a tip sleeve removably mounted on the forward end of the instrument; b) a tip member rigidly and removably mounted on the projected end of the lightpipe, the tip member having a shape to vibrate a defined, pre-selected skin-puncturing site on a human or animal; and c) an elastic overmold covering the tip sleeve and the tip member, the tip sleeve including a forward portion having alternate grooves and ribs, the grooves filled by the overmold and the ribs covered by the overmold, the elastic overmold molded to a shape of the tip sleeve and the tip member and holding the tip sleeve and the tip member together, thereby separating the tip sleeve from the tip member and allowing the tip member to vibrate relative to the tip sleeve and allowing light from the lightpipe to illuminate a defined, pre-selected skin-puncturing site. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification