Patent Application
20240299673
The present disclosure relates generally to the field of anesthetizing apparatus, and more particularly to topical anesthetizing apparatus. Pain is a major limiting factor in many common procedures performed in the inpatient and ambulatory care settings. A very abbreviated list includes skin biopsy, fine needle aspiration biopsy, IV insertion, vaccination, injections (including injection of anesthetics), blood draws, central line placements, and finger and heal pricks for blood analysis (glucose measurement). Pharmacologic anesthesia is a primary method of pain reduction, but the delivery of local pharmacologic anesthesia usually requires a painful injection. Other methods of providing anesthesia include the application of cold temperatures through ice, liquid evaporation, or low temperature substances.
Skin can be numbed for a variety of reasons. For example, skin may be temporarily numbed to relieve pain caused by, for example, sunburn from overexposure to the sun's ultraviolet radiation, dermatitis caused by coming in contact with a substance that irritates or causes an allergic reaction, skin injuries that do not penetrate to the point that blood appears. Skin may also be temporarily numbed in anticipation of future pain that results from a medical procedure (e.g., receiving stiches to close a wound, receiving dermabrasion, etc.) as well as cosmetic procedures (e.g., ear piercing, tattooing, hair removal, waxing, and similar procedures.
The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.
Certain terminology may be employed in the following description for convenience rather than for any limiting purpose. For example, the terms “forward” and “rearward,” “front” and “rear,” “right” and “left,” “upper” and “lower,” and “top” and “bottom” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made, with the terms “inward,” “inner,” “interior,” or “inboard” and “outward,” “outer,” “exterior,” or “outboard” referring, respectively, to directions toward and away from the center of the referenced element, the terms “radial” or “horizontal” and “axial” or “vertical” referring, respectively, to directions or planes which are perpendicular, in the case of radial or horizontal, or parallel, in the case of axial or vertical, to the longitudinal central axis of the referenced element, the terms “proximate” and “distal” referring, respectively, to positions or locations that are close or away from a point of reference, and the terms “downstream” and “upstream” referring, respectively, to directions in and opposite that of fluid flow. Terminology of similar import other than the words specifically mentioned above likewise is to be considered as being used for purposes of convenience rather than in any limiting sense.
In the figures, elements having an alphanumeric designation may be referenced herein collectively or in the alternative, as will be apparent from context, by the numeric portion of the designation only. Further, the constituent parts of various elements in the figures may be designated with separate reference numerals which shall be understood to refer to that constituent part of the element and not the element as a whole. General references, along with references to spaces, surfaces, dimensions, and extents, may be designated with arrows. Angles may be designated as “included” as measured relative to surfaces or axes of an element and as defining a space bounded internally within such element therebetween, or otherwise without such designation as being measured relative to surfaces or axes of an element and as defining a space bounded externally by or outside of such element therebetween. Generally, the measures of the angles stated are as determined relative to a common axis, which axis may be transposed in the figures for purposes of convenience in projecting the vertex of an angle defined between the axis and a surface which otherwise does not extend to the axis. The term “axis” may refer to a line or to a transverse plane through such line as will be apparent from context.
Skin can be numbed for a variety of reasons. For example, skin may be temporarily numbed to relieve pain caused by, for example, sunburn from overexposure to the sun's ultraviolet radiation, dermatitis caused by coming in contact with a substance that irritates or causes an allergic reaction, skin injuries that do not penetrate to the point that blood appears. Skin may also be temporarily numbed in anticipation of future pain that results from a medical procedure (e.g., receiving stiches to close a wound, receiving dermabrasion, etc.) as well as cosmetic procedures (e.g., ear piercing, tattooing, hair removal, waxing, and similar procedures.
Embodiments of the instant disclosure seek to provide a topical anesthetizing apparatus (“apparatus”) that is configured to be topically used in anticipation of future pain that results from a medical procedure Other aspects of the instant disclosure seek to an apparatus that is reusable. Additional aspects of the present invention seek to provide an apparatus that is hand-held and portable.
Turning now to the FIGS.
The first recess 115 and the second recess 505 come together to form a sphere 635. The first recess 115 and/or the second recess 505 include a magnet (e.g., a magnet 205 and a magnet 515, respectively), which selectively secures the numbing orb 120. The first portion 115 (or the second portion 505) includes a traversing release button 125 positioned proximate to the magnet. The traversing release button 125 selectively dislodges the numbing orb 125 from the magnet when compressed. The numbing orb 125 can be formed in a variety of manners. For example, the numbing orb 125 can be a metallic structure that has a powder coating.
The numbing orb can also be a hollow polymeric structure (e.g., a numbing orb 620) that is at least partially filled with a liquid (e.g., a liquid filling 622). The polymer material is preferably food grade. The liquid filling can include, but is not limited to, water, hydroxyethyl cellulose, sodium polyacrylate, a polymer, a glycol, glycerin, and/or silica coated with vinyl. Here, the numbing orb 620 includes a metal tab 640 externally affixed thereto that allows the numbing orb 620 to be selectively positioned within the first recess 115 or the second recess 505. In some embodiments, the metal tab 640 is internally affixed to the numbing orb 620. For example, the portion of the numbing orb 620 around the metal tab 640 (e.g., a portion 650) can have a greater thickness compared to the rest of the circumference of the numbing orb 620.
The apparatus 600 can be oriented in an open state 130 (e.g., depicted in
Here, the first portion 705 is hinge attached (e.g., via a hinge 730) to the second portion 715. The first portion 705 and/or the second portion 715 can include a void 706 internally positioned therein and an access port 805 externally positioned thereon. The access port 805 is functionally coupled to the void 706. The void 706 is configured to receive a liquid via the access port. Here, applicable liquids include, but are not limited to, water, The access port 805 preferably includes a food-grade tab that acts as a stopper. Here, the apparatus 700 can be filled with water and placed in a freezer to thereby freeze the water and chill the numbing orb 1005.
The apparatus 600 or the apparatus 700 (hereinafter “the apparatus”) is preferably used in a method to topically anesthetize the skin of a mammal. The method includes chilling the numbing orb of the topical anesthetizing apparatus. Here, chilling the numbing orb can include placing the numbing orb, the first portion, and/or the second portion in a freezer (e.g., 5-30 minutes). Water can be added to the first portion and/or the second portion via the access port attached thereto prior to chilling the numbing orb. While the apparatus is in the open state, the chilled numbing orb is applied to skin (i.e., at a predetermined location that will receive the future topical pain) to topically anesthetize the skin. Preferably, the skin is dried (i.e., void of visible moisture) prior to applying the chilled numbing orb to the skin. The skin location that received the chilled numbing orb is ready to receive a needle injection (e.g., for insulin or other injectable medication). Subsequently, the numbing orb can be dislodged from the magnet positioned in the first portion or the second portion via the traversing release button, the release button is positioned proximate to the magnet. Components of the apparatus can be cleaned with soap and water to maintain sanitary conditions.
Based on the foregoing, a topical anesthetizing apparatus has been disclosed in accordance with the present invention. However, numerous modifications and substitutions can be made without deviating from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention has been disclosed by way of example and not limitation.
