Apparatus and method for minimizing pain perception

US6231531A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC. · US

Inventors

• Paul Lum · Los Altos, US
• Michael Greenstein · Los Altos, US
• Edward Verdonk · San Jose, US
• Tad Decatur Simons · Palo Alto, US
• Dominique Freeman · La Honda, US
• Ganapati Mauze · Sunnyvale, US
• David A. King · Pleasanton, US
• Jerry Zawadzki · San Jose, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 9, 1999
• Grant date: May 15, 2001
• Expiry date: Apr 9, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61M5/422
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An apparatus and method for minimizing a subject's pain perception during an invasive medical procedure, such as blood sampling and the like. The apparatus can include a receiving surface constructed to contact a portion of the subject's skin and a vibratory mechanism associated with the receiving surface such that the vibratory mechanism transmits vibrations through the receiving surface and to the subject's skin. An invasive sharp can be substantially permanently supported and moveably disposed with respect to the receiving surface such that the invasive sharp reciprocates between a first position in which the sharp is spaced from the receiving surface, away from the subject's skin, and a second position in which at least a portion of the sharp protrudes through an opening in the receiving surface.