Anesthetic delivery tool and method of using

• US 6,719,734 B1
• Filed: 05/28/2002
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Willie E. Harkless
• Original Assignee: Willie E. Harkless
• Inventors: Harkless, Willie E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Han, Mark K
• Application Number:
  US10/156,087
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 604/48, 604/77, 604/93.01, 604/173, 604/174, 604/180, 604/187, 604/195, 604/196, 604/197, 604/200, 604/201, 604/204, 604/212, 604/214, 604/244, 604/272, 433/80, 433/89, 433/90
• US Class Current: 604/201
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 19/00 Local anaesthesia syringes therefor A61M5/00; Hypothermia A61M5/42 takes precedence; cooling blood in a bypass of the arterial system A61M1/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/048 Anaesthetics see also A61M19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0625 Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type

Abstract

A new and improved anesthetic delivery tool and method of using the tool in transmucosal absorption applications of a gel topical anesthetic agent and in subdermal injections of a liquid anesthetic agent is disclosed. The anesthetic delivery tool comprises a housing unit having a hollow central cavity with a slip plate containing a plurality of needles directed towards the front end of the housing unit. The slip plate and the front portion of the hollow central cavity defining a front-end cavity for affixing a therapeutically effective aliquot of gel topical anesthetic agent. The anesthetic delivery tool also comprises a thin membrane positioned directly behind the slip plane and a push plate positioned at the rear end of the housing unit. The push plate, the thin membrane and the rear portion of the hollow central cavity defining a rear-end cavity for affixing a therapeutically effective amount of liquid anesthetic agent. The method of using comprises obtaining, identifying, removing, adhering, aligning, allowing, positioning, exerting, removing, pulling, and discarding.

Claims

1. An anesthetic delivery tool for use in a transmucosal absorption application of a gel topical anesthetic agent and for use in a subdermal injection of a liquid anesthetic agent, said anesthetic delivery tool comprising:

a housing unit having rear end, a front end and a continuous wall defining a hollow central cavity with a rear orifice and a front orifice;

a slip plate having a front surface, a rear surface and an edge, said edge of said slip plate slidably attached around a first portion of said interior surface of said continuous wall of said housing unit, the part of said central cavity between said front surface of said slip plate and the front end of said housing unit defining a front-end cavity, wherein when a forward bearing force is exerted onto said rear surface of said slip plate said slip plate is capable of sliding forward into a portion of said front-end cavity;

a plurality of hollow needles attached longitudinally through said slip plate, said needles having sharp-ends and butt-ends, wherein the sharp-ends of said needles extending away from said front surface of said slip plate into said front-end cavity and generally pointing towards the front end of said housing unit, wherein the butt-ends of said needles extending away from said rear surface of said slip plate and generally pointing towards the rear end of said housing unit, wherein when the forward bearing force is exerted onto said rear surface of said slip plate said slip plate is capable of sliding forward into a portion of said front-end cavity whereby extending said sharp-ends of said needles beyond said front-end cavity;

a first aliquot of the gel topical anesthetic agent affixed onto said front-end cavity, wherein said first aliquot of the gel topical anesthetic agent covering a portion of said sharp-ends of said needles;

a thin membrane having a rear surface, a front surface and an edge, said edge of said thin membrane continuously attached around a second portion of said interior surface of said continuous wall of said housing unit, said thin membrane positioned behind said slip plate, said thin membrane penetrable with said butt-ends of said needles when the forward bearing force is exerted onto said rear surface of said thin membrane;

a push plate having an exterior surface, an interior surface and an edge, said edge of said push plate attached around said rear end of said housing unit, wherein the part of said central cavity between said thin membrane and said push plate defining a rear-end cavity; and

an second aliquot of the liquid anesthetic agent affixed within said rear-end cavity.

2. The anesthetic delivery tool described in claim 1, wherein said first portion of the interior surface of said continuous wall of said housing unit defining an inwardly extending ridge, said edge of said slip plate is attached to said ridge, wherein when the forward bearing force is exerted onto said rear surface of said slip plate the attachment of said ridge to said edge of said slip plate is breakable, whereby said slip plate is capable of sliding forward into a portion of said front-end cavity whereby extending said sharp-ends of said needles beyond said front-end cavity.

3. The anesthetic delivery tool described in claim 1, wherein said first portion of the interior surface of said continuous wall of said housing unit defining an inwardly extending lip, said lip positioned near the front end of said housing unit within said central cavity, said lip having a width greater than the width of said slip plate, wherein when the forward bearing force is exerted onto said rear surface of said slip plate, said slip plate is capable of sliding forward into a portion of said front-end cavity and said slip plate is not capable of sliding past said lip, whereby said slip plate is retainable within said front-end cavity of said housing unit.

4. The anesthetic delivery tool described in claim 1 wherein said push plate further comprises a flexible membrane attached around said rear orifice of said housing unit, wherein when said rear-end cavity is filled with liquid anesthetic agent, said push plate is capable of bulging outwardly from said rear-end of said housing unit and when the forward bearing force is exerted onto said exterior surface of said push plate, then said flexible member is capable of bulging inwardly from said rear-end of said housing unit into a portion of said rear-end cavity, whereby reducing the volume in said rear-end cavity.

5. The anesthetic delivery tool described in claim 4 further comprising a finger protector sheet having rear surface, a front surface, a hole and an edge, said edge of said finger protector sheet attached around a portion of said interior surface of said continuous wall of said housing unit said rear-end cavity, wherein said finger protector sheet bisects said rear-end cavity, the part of said rear-end cavity between said finger protector sheet and said push plate defining a top chamber of said rear-end cavity, and the part of said rear-end cavity between said finger protection sheet and said thin membrane defining a bottom chamber of said rear-end cavity, said top chamber in fluid communications with said bottom chamber through said hole in said finger protector sheet, wherein said finger protector sheet is made of a puncture resistant material resistant to being penetrated by said butt-ends of said needles.

6. The anesthetic delivery tool described in claim 1 wherein said edge of said push plate comprises a sleeve having an exterior width slightly smaller than the width of said central cavity of said housing unit, said sleeve slidably attached with said inner surface of said continuous wall of said housing unit within said rear-end cavity, wherein when the forward bearing force is exerted on said exterior surface of said push plate, then said push plate is capable of sliding forwardly along said inner surface of said continuous wall of said housing unit whereby reducing the volume of said rear-end cavity.

7. The anesthetic delivery tool described in claim 6 wherein said sleeve having an outside surface and an inside surface, said inside surface having an interior width, wherein said inside surface of said sleeve and said interior surface of said push plate defining a hollow shaft, said hollow shaft in fluid communications with said rear-end cavity.

8. The anesthetic delivery tool described in claim 7, wherein said push plate further comprising a finger protector sheet having a rear surface, a front surface, a hole and an edge, said edge of said finger protector sheet bisecting said hollow shaft by being attached around a portion of said interior surface of said sleeve wherein the part of said hollow shaft between said finger protector sheet and said interior surface of said push plate defining a top zone of said hollow shaft, and the part of said hollow shaft between said finger protection sheet and the remaining part of said hollow shaft defining a bottom zone of said hollow shaft, said top zone in fluid communications with said bottom zone through said hole in said finger protector sheet, wherein said finger protector sheet is made of a puncture resistant material resistant to being penetrated by said butt-ends of said needles.

9. The anesthetic delivery tool described in claim 8 further comprising a septum cap attached to said push plate, wherein said septum cap intended for allowing the aliquot of liquid anesthetic agent to volumetrically affixed within said rear-end cavity.

10. The anesthetic delivery tool described in claim 9 wherein said second portion so said interior surface of said continuous wall of said housing unit further comprising an inwardly extending ledge, said ledge defining an orifice where said thin membrane is attached, wherein said orifice of said ledge having a width less than the external width of said sleeve, wherein when the forward bearing force is exerted on said exterior surface of said push plate, then said push plate is capable of sliding forwardly along said inner surface of said continuous wall of said housing unit and said push plate is not capable of sliding past said ledge, whereby said ledge is capable of preventing said push plate from sliding outside of said rear-end cavity.

11. The anesthetic delivery tool described in claim 10 further comprising a neck attached to said sleeve of said push plate, said neck having a width less than said sleeve, said neck and said sleeve defining a shoulder, wherein when the forward bearing force is exerted on said exterior surface of said push plate, said push plate is capable of sliding forwardly along said inner surface of said continuous wall of said housing unit and said shoulder of said push plate is not capable of sliding past said ledge, whereby said ledge is capable of preventing said push plate from sliding outside of said rear-end cavity.

12. The anesthetic delivery tool described in claim 10 further comprising a spring attached to ledge, wherein when the forward bearing force is exerted on said exterior surface of said push plate, said push plate is capable of sliding forwardly along said inner surface of said continuous wall of said housing unit and said spring is capable of contacting said push plate, whereby said spring providing resistance against the forward bearing force when said push plate slides towards said ledge.

13. The anesthetic delivery tool described in claim 6 further comprising a rim attached to the rear end of said housing unit, said rim defining an aperture having a width less than the external width of said sleeve of said push plate, wherein said push plate is restrained within said central cavity by said rim.

14. The anesthetic delivery tool described in claim 13 further comprising an adhesive strip attached to said rim and detachably attached to a portion of the exterior surface of said push plate, wherein when the forward bearing force is exerted onto said push plate, said adhesive pad is capable of detaching from said push plate, whereby said adhesive strip maintaining said push plate against said rim until the forward bearing force is exerted onto said push plate.

15. The anesthetic delivery tool described in claim 1 further comprising a gingival adhesive pad attached to said front end of said housing unit, said gingival adhesive pad intended to temporarily attach said housing unit onto a patient'"'"'s gingival work area.

16. The anesthetic delivery tool described in claim 1 further comprising a detachable film cover attached onto said front end of said housing unit, said film cover maintaining in place said gel topical anesthetic agent within said front-end cavity.

17. The anesthetic delivery tool described in claim 16 wherein said film cover having a pull tab.

18. The anesthetic delivery tool described in claim 1 further comprising a string attached to said housing unit, said string intended to be used as a safety device to retrieve said housing unit from a patients mouth or esophagus.

19. An anesthetic delivery tool for use in a transmucosal absorption application of a gel topical anesthetic agent and for use in a subdermal injection of a liquid anesthetic agent, said anesthetic delivery tool comprising:

a housing unit having rear end, a front end and a continuous wall defining a hollow central cavity with a rear orifice and a front orifice, wherein said continuous wall of said housing unit including;

a ridge inwardly extending at a first portion of the interior surface of said continuous wall;

a lip inwardly extending at the front end of said housing unit within said central cavity;

a ledge inwardly extending along a second portion of said interior surface, said ledge defining an orifice having a width; and

a rim attached to the rear end of said housing unit, said rim defining an aperture having a width;

a slip plate having a front surface, a rear surface and an edge, said edge of said slip plate slidably attached around said first portion of said interior surface of said continuous wall of said housing unit,

said edge of said slip plate is attached to said ridge, the part of said central cavity between said front surface of said slip plate and the front end of said housing unit defining a front-end cavity, wherein when a forward bearing force is exerted onto said rear surface of said slip plate said slip plate is capable of sliding forward into a portion of said front-end cavity,

said lip having a width greater than the width of said slip plate, wherein when the forward bearing force is exerted onto said rear surface of said slip plate, said slip plate is capable of sliding forward into a portion of said front-end cavity and said slip plate is not capable of sliding past said lip, whereby said slip plate is retainable within said front-end cavity of said housing unit;

a plurality of hollow needles attached longitudinally through said slip plate, said needles having sharp-ends and butt-ends, wherein the sharp-ends of said needles extending away from said front surface of said slip plate into said front-end cavity and generally pointing towards the front end of said housing unit, wherein the butt-ends of said needles extending away from said rear surface of said slip plate and generally pointing towards the rear end of said housing unit, wherein when the forward bearing force is exerted onto said rear surface of said slip plate said slip plate is capable of sliding forward into a portion of said front-end cavity whereby extending said sharp-ends of said needles beyond said front-end cavity;

a first aliquot of the gel topical anesthetic agent affixed onto said front-end cavity, wherein said first aliquot of the gel topical anesthetic agent covering a portion of said sharp-ends of said needles;

a thin membrane having a rear surface, a front surface and an edge, said edge of said thin membrane continuously attached around said ledge at said second portion of said interior surface of said continuous wall of said housing unit, said thin membrane positioned behind said slip plate, said thin membrane penetrable with said butt-ends of said needles when the forward bearing force is exerted onto said rear surface of said thin membrane;

a push plate having an exterior surface, an interior surface and an edge, said edge of said push plate attached around said rear end of said housing unit, wherein the part of said central cavity between said thin membrane and said push plate defining a rear-end cavity, said edge of said push plate comprises a sleeve and a neck,

said sleeve having an exterior width slightly smaller than the width of said central cavity of said housing unit, said sleeve slidably attached with said inner surface of said continuous wall of said housing unit within said rear-end cavity, said sleeve having an outside surface and an inside surface, said inside surface having an interior width, wherein said inside surface of said sleeve and said interior surface of said push plate defining a hollow shaft, said hollow shaft in fluid communications with said rear-end cavity,

said neck attached to said sleeve of said push plate, said neck having a width less than said sleeve, said neck and said sleeve defining a shoulder, wherein when the forward bearing force is exerted on said exterior surface of said push plate, said push plate is capable of sliding forwardly along said inner surface of said continuous wall of said housing unit and said shoulder of said push plate is not capable of sliding past said ledge, whereby said ledge is capable of preventing said push plate from sliding outside of said rear-end cavity,

said orifice of said ledge having a width less than the external width of said sleeve, wherein when the forward bearing force is exerted on said exterior surface of said push plate, then said push plate is capable of sliding forwardly along said inner surface of said continuous wall of said housing unit and said push plate is not capable of sliding past said ledge, whereby said ledge is capable of preventing said push plate from sliding outside of said rear-end cavity,

said aperture of said rim having a width less than the external width of said sleeve of said push plate, whereby said push plate is restrained within said central cavity by said rim;

a finger protector sheet having a rear surface, a front surface, a hole and an edge, said edge of said finger protector sheet bisecting said hollow shaft of said push plate by being attached around a portion of said interior surface of said sleeve wherein the part of said hollow shaft between said finger protector sheet and said interior surface of said push plate defining a top zone of said hollow shaft, and the part of said hollow shaft between said finger protection sheet and the remaining part of said hollow shaft defining a bottom zone of said hollow shaft, said top zone in fluid communications with said bottom zone through said hole in said finger protector sheet, wherein said finger protector sheet is made of a puncture resistant material resistant to being penetrated by said butt-ends of said needles;

a septum cap attached to said push plate;

a spring attached to ledge, wherein when the forward bearing force is exerted on said exterior surface of said push plate, said push plate is capable of sliding forwardly along said inner surface of said continuous wall of said housing unit and said spring is capable of contacting said push plate, whereby said spring providing resistance against the forward bearing force when said push plate slides towards said ledge;

an second aliquot of the liquid anesthetic agent affixed within said rear-end cavity;

an adhesive strip attached to said rim and detachably attached to a portion of the exterior surface of said push plate, wherein when the forward bearing force is exerted onto said push plate, said adhesive pad is capable of detaching from said push plate, whereby said adhesive strip maintaining said push plate against said rim until the forward bearing force is exerted onto said push plate;

a gingival adhesive pad attached to said front end of said housing unit, said gingival adhesive pad intended to temporarily attach said housing unit onto a patient'"'"'s gingival work area;

a detachable film cover attached onto said front end of said housing unit, said film cover maintaining in place said gel topical anesthetic agent within said front-end cavity, said film cover having a pull tab; and

a string attached to said housing unit.

20. A method of using an anesthetic delivery tool for use in a transmucosal absorption application of a gel topical anesthetic agent and for use in a subdermal injection of a liquid anesthetic agent, said method comprising the steps of:

obtaining the dental anesthetic delivery tool comprising;

a housing unit having rear end, a front end and a continuous wall defining a hollow central cavity with a rear orifice and a front orifice, wherein the continuous wall of the housing unit including;

a ridge inwardly extending at a first portion of the interior surface of the continuous wall;

a lip inwardly extending at the front end of the housing unit within the central cavity;

a ledge inwardly extending along a second portion of the interior surface, the ledge defining an orifice having a width; and

a rim attached to the rear end of the housing unit, the rim defining an aperture having a width;

a slip plate having a front surface, a rear surface and an edge, the edge of the slip plate slidably attached around the first portion of the interior surface of the continuous wall of the housing unit,

the edge of the slip plate is attached to the ridge, the part of the central cavity between the front surface of the slip plate and the front end of the housing unit defining a front-end cavity, wherein when a forward bearing force is exerted onto the rear surface of the slip plate the slip plate is capable of sliding forward into a portion of the front-end cavity,

the lip having a width greater than the width of the slip plate, wherein when the forward bearing force is exerted onto the rear surface of the slip plate, the slip plate is capable of sliding forward into a portion of the front-end cavity and the slip plate is not capable of sliding past the lip, whereby the slip plate is retainable within the front-end cavity of the housing unit;

a plurality of hollow needles attached longitudinally through the slip plate, the needles having sharp-ends and butt-ends, wherein the sharp-ends of the needles extending away from the front surface of the slip plate into the front-end cavity and generally pointing towards the front end of the housing unit, wherein the butt-ends of the needles extending away from the rear surface of the slip plate and generally pointing towards the rear end of the housing unit, wherein when the forward bearing force is exerted onto the rear surface of the slip plate the slip plate is capable of sliding forward into a portion of the front-end cavity whereby extending the sharp-ends of the needles beyond the front-end cavity;

a first aliquot of the gel topical anesthetic agent affixed onto the front-end cavity, wherein the first aliquot of the gel topical anesthetic agent covering a portion of the sharp-ends of the needles;

a thin membrane having a rear surface, a front surface and an edge, the edge of the thin membrane continuously attached around the ledge at the second portion of the interior surface of the continuous wall of the housing unit, the thin membrane positioned behind the slip plate, the thin membrane penetrable with the butt-ends of the needles when the forward bearing force is exerted onto the rear surface of the thin membrane;

a push plate having an exterior surface, an interior surface and an edge, the edge of the push plate attached around the rear end of the housing unit, wherein the part of the central cavity between the thin membrane and the push plate defining a rear-end cavity, the edge of the push plate comprises a sleeve and a neck,

the sleeve having an exterior width slightly smaller than the width of the central cavity of the housing unit, the sleeve slidably attached with the inner surface of the continuous wall of the housing unit within the rear-end cavity, the sleeve having an outside surface and an inside surface, the inside surface having an interior width, wherein the inside surface of the sleeve and the interior surface of the push plate defining a hollow shaft, the hollow shaft in fluid communications with the rear-end cavity,

the neck attached to the sleeve of the push plate, the neck having a width less than the sleeve, the neck and the sleeve defining a shoulder, wherein when the forward bearing force is exerted on the exterior surface of the push plate, the push plate is capable of sliding forwardly along the inner surface of the continuous wall of the housing unit and the shoulder of the push plate is not capable of sliding past the ledge, whereby the ledge is capable of preventing the push plate from sliding outside of the rear-end cavity,

the orifice of the ledge having a width less than the external width of the sleeve, wherein when the forward bearing force is exerted on the exterior surface of the push plate, then the push plate is capable of sliding forwardly along the inner surface of the continuous wall of the housing unit and the push plate is not capable of sliding past the ledge, whereby the ledge is capable of preventing the push plate from sliding outside of the rear-end cavity,

the aperture of the rim having a width less than the external width of the sleeve of the push plate, whereby the push plate is restrained within the central cavity by the rim;

a finger protector sheet having a rear surface, a front surface, a hole and an edge, the edge of the finger protector sheet bisecting the hollow shaft of the push plate by being attached around a portion of the interior surface of the sleeve wherein the part of the hollow shaft between the finger protector sheet and the interior surface of the push plate defining a top zone of the hollow shaft, and the part of the hollow shaft between the finger protection sheet and the remaining part of the hollow shaft defining a bottom zone of the hollow shaft, the top zone in fluid communications with the bottom zone through the hole in the finger protector sheet, wherein the finger protector sheet is made of a puncture resistant material resistant to being penetrated by the butt-ends of the needles;

a septum cap attached to the push plate;

a spring attached to ledge, wherein when the forward bearing force is exerted on the exterior surface of the push plate, the the push plate is capable of sliding forwardly along the inner surface of the continuous wall of the housing unit and the spring is capable of contacting the push plate, whereby the spring providing resistance against the forward bearing force when the push plate slides towards the ledge;

an second aliquot of the liquid anesthetic agent affixed within the rear-end cavity;

an adhesive strip attached to the rim and detachably attached to a portion of the exterior surface of the push plate, wherein when the forward bearing force is exerted onto the push plate, the adhesive pad is capable of detaching from the push plate, whereby the adhesive strip maintaining the push plate against the rim until the forward bearing force is exerted onto the push plate;

a gingival adhesive pad attached to the front end of the housing unit, the gingival adhesive pad intended to temporarily attach the housing unit onto a patient'"'"'s gingival work area;

a detachable film cover attached onto the front end of the housing unit, the film cover maintaining in place the gel topical anesthetic agent within the front-end cavity, the film cover having a pull tab; and

a string attached to the housing unit;

identifying the gingival work area in the patient'"'"'s mouth;

removing the detachable film cover from the front end of the housing unit;

adhering the front end of the housing unit to the gingival work area in the patient'"'"'s mouth;

aligning the string outside of the patient'"'"'s mouth;

allowing time to pass so that the gel topical anesthetic agent can be transmucosally absorbed in the gingival work area in the patient'"'"'s mouth;

positioning a finger over the exterior surface of the push plate;

exerting the forward bearing force onto the exterior surface of the push plate so that the slip plate slides forward and the sharp-ends of the needles puncture the gingival work area in the patient'"'"'s mouth as well as penetrate the thin membrane and subsequently inject the liquid anesthetic agent into the surrounding tissue of the gingival work area in the patient'"'"'s mouth;

removing the finger from the exterior surface of the push plate;

pulling the housing unit out of the patients mouth; and

discarding the used housing unit.