Lancing device having anesthetic feature
Inventors
Bagwell, Roger B • Becker, Nicholas C • Clement, Ryan S • Pier, Brandon A
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-11806143-B2
Publication Date
2023-11-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
A handheld lancing device having anesthetic feature includes a housing removably retaining a disposable lancet. A carriage suspended within the housing by an isolation assembly may receive the lancet. A motor in mechanical communication with the lancet produces vibrations transmitted to contact surface, which vibrate a target lancing site prior to and during piercing. The target site is vibrated for a predetermined period of time before deploying the lancet. The isolation assembly permits movement of the carriage and/or lancet within the housing in one direction while limiting movement in other directions, and further dampens the vibrations of the motor from the housing held by the user. A force sensor detects force applied by the pressing of the contact surface against the skin of the patient. An indicator(s) perceivable to the user identifies when predefined positions of the lancet are reached for initiating vibration then triggering the lancet.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a lancing device that uses an anesthetic feature based on vibrations. The device includes a housing that receives a lancet removably, where the lancet has a body, a head, and a piercing member selectively deployable to lance a target lancing site. A motor is selectively actuated to generate vibrations, and a contact surface disposed proximate to the piercing member is mechanically configured to contact the target lancing site, receive vibrations from the motor, and transfer the vibrations to the target lancing site before deploying the piercing member and during deployment of the piercing member.
The device also includes a carriage movably suspended within the housing to receive and retain the lancet body, and a plurality of isolation members disposed substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the lancet and biasing the carriage against the housing. This arrangement provides mechanical features in which the contact surface transmits motor-generated vibrations to the target lancing site while isolating vibrations transmitted to a user-held housing portion, while still allowing lancet carriage movement.
The disclosed approach further sequences events based on user-applied force detection, using a force indicating system that includes a force sensor and perceivable indicators/windows. In the described sequencing, reaching a first force corresponds to initiating vibration for an anesthetizing effect, and reaching a second force corresponds to triggering deployment of the piercing member to a predetermined depth, thereby coordinating vibration timing with incision/deployment.
Claims Coverage
The provided excerpt includes two independent claims that cover a lancing device and a method using the same vibration-based anesthetic feature. Across the independents, there are four inventive features centered on vibrational transfer to a target lancing site before and during piercing, and vibration-isolation structure in the device, with method sequencing to deploy the piercing member while maintaining vibration.
Vibration-transferring contact surface for pre- and during-piercing anesthesia
A lancing device in which a contact surface proximate to the piercing member is in mechanical communication with a motor and configured to contact the target lancing site, receive vibrations from the motor, and transfer the vibrations to the target lancing site before deploying the piercing member and during deployment of the piercing member.
Carriage and transverse isolation members biasing against the housing
A lancing device with a carriage movably suspended within the housing configured to receive and retain the lancet body, and a plurality of isolation members disposed substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the lancet biasing the carriage against the housing.
Motor vibration delivered through contact surface while holding against target site
A method in which a contact surface is placed in contact with a target lancing site, a motor is activated to produce vibrations that are transferred from the motor through the contact surface to the target lancing site, and the contact surface is held against the target lancing site while vibrating.
Piercing member deployment while maintaining vibration
A method that deploys the piercing member of the lancet to the target lancing site while maintaining vibration of the target lancing site by the contact surface.
The independent claim set is directed to a vibration-based anesthetic feature in a lancing device, where motor-generated vibrations are transferred via a contact surface to the target lancing site prior to and during piercing, supported by carriage isolation/biasing structure. The method claim covers contacting the site with the contact surface, activating motor vibrations through the contact surface, holding vibration, and deploying the piercing member while maintaining vibration.
Stated Advantages
Provides a vibration-producing anesthetizing effect for lancing while the piercing member is deployed.
Documented Applications
A feasibility crossover clinical study measuring skin conductance (sympathetic activation) and behavioral pain coding (NFCS) after a pre-lance vibration period versus a non-vibrated control.
A pilot EEG cortical pain trial comparing pre-lance vibration versus control, including reduced EEG responses and altered topographic activation.
Interested in licensing this patent?