An apparatus comprising a vibrating finger device useful in a medical setting includes a device body configured to fit on a finger of a wearer, a vibrating unit, a touch sensitive sensor, and a control module including a computerized processor. The control module includes programming configured to monitor an activation input to the device, determine the monitored activation input to indicate a threshold desired vibration activation input, and activate a vibration cycle within the vibrating unit based upon the determination.

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a device for the reduction perceived pain in patients. Various embodiments comprise a flexible shell comprising a pliable material and a first non-planar surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The flexible shell defines an interior cavity located intermediate the first surface and the second surface and filled at least in part by a first substance. The first surface comprises a plurality of protrusions distributed therein and configured to be depressed into the skin of the patient. The pain reducing device may execute a cooling functionality upon being moved from a first position to a second position. When cooled and depressed against the patient's skin, the pain reducing device provides a sensory confusion sensation to the patient, thereby reducing perceived pain caused by a needle insertion.

A needle assembly is disclosed, for use with an injection device. The needle assembly comprises a needle hub (20) having a needle (22) and a needle shield (40) arranged for relative axial movement with respect to the needle hub, between a retracted position in which the tip of the needle projects beyond a forward end of the shield and an extended position in which the tip of the needle does not project beyond the forward end of the shield. The needle shield (40) is axially biased towards the extended position. The needle shield (40) is further arranged to be torsionally biased for relative rotational movement with respect to the needle hub (20).

The present invention generally provides a device for inserting needles and alleviating the discomfort associated with needle insertion. In certain embodiments, the device is suited for injecting butterfly needles and particularly butterfly needles that are attached to infusion tubing. The patient or caregiver loads a butterfly needle with tubing attached into the base of the drive plunger. The needle with tubing attached is retracted into the housing of the device by retracting the inner plunger. Once retracted, the device is activated and ready to administer a needle into the tissue of a patient. The device is then placed on the location of the skin where injection is desired. The surface that contacts the skin may be textured and may include a contact switch that causes the device to vibrate when slight pressure is applied through contact with the skin. Two trigger buttons in the housing of the device may be depressed to eject the needle at an angle essentially perpendicular to the surface of the skin into the tissue of the patient concurrently with the textured pads contacting the skin and vibrating, distracting the patient from the needle insertion. The inner plunger of the device is then depressed toward the surface of the skin to release the needle from the device. The wings and body of the butterfly may be secured to the skin, for example, with an adhesive such as tape.

Disclosed are applicators and methods injecting of a liquid anesthetic into a dental patient with no or minimal pain. In accordance with one embodiment the applicator is for intraligamentary injection and includes an elongated, thin member having an open distal free formed of a resilient and somewhat conformable material suitable for producing a substantially fluid-tight interface with the anatomic structures at the gingival sulcus to inject the anesthetic therein. In another embodiment the applicator includes a flexible skirt surrounding a sharpened cannula, with the cannula being movable with respect to the skirt. The skirt is arranged to receive the anesthetic to anesthetize the gum, whereupon the cannula can then pierce the gum to inject the anesthetic into the underlying anatomic structure.

The present disclosure relates to a device to provide a discomfort-reducing sensations to an area in preparation for injection or other needle puncture. The system includes a vibration source, as well as an electrical stimulation source. These two operate in combination to cause a numbing sensation to the patient, at which point a needle can puncture the skin without causing pain, discomfort, flinching, and mental distress.

The injection device comprises a medicine container, means for injecting medicine from the medicine container to a patient through a needle, a skin contact surface crossable by the needle and having protrusions which are pressed around the injection site when the injection device is applied on the patient's skin for the injection, the protrusions being arranged so as to reduce the pain caused by the penetration of the needle, and a sensor for detecting contact of the patient's skin with the skin contact surface, wherein a predetermined force of application of the injection device on the patient's skin is required for the sensor to detect the patient's skin. According to another aspect of the invention, the protrusions include first and second protrusions, wherein the first protrusions come into contact with the patient's skin as the device is applied with a first force and the second protrusions come into contact with the patient's skin as the device is applied with a second force, the second force being greater than the first force.

Described herein are injection devices capable of automatically injecting substances into the soft tissue of a patient. The devices can inject low to high viscosity materials at predetermined, user selected injection rates, allowing the operator more control than a traditional syringe. The devices can allow mixing of more than one substance and/or reconstitution of a solid substance for injection. The injection devices described herein can allow the operator to easily inject one or more low to high viscosity liquid or gel soft-tissue augmentation fillers, one or more drugs, one or more other biocompatible materials, or combinations thereof.

An electrical venous stimulation apparatus comprising an electrical signal generator, the signal generator configured to generate a specified electrical output signal. The apparatus also includes a plurality of electrodes in electrical communication with the signal generator and configured to be placed in electrical communication with a subject. The electrical output signal sent to the subject includes an output voltage, electrical current, and waveform that changes with time in a preprogrammed repeating cycle. The output voltage, electrical current, and waveform are configured to elicit a physiological response that stimulates a plurality of peripheral nerves in the subject, activates a venous muscle pump mechanism in one or more limbs of the subject, and non-invasively alter the physiology of target vein(s), wherein the target vein(s) is caused to distend from under the surface of the subject's skin.

Disclosed are applicators and methods injecting of a liquid anesthetic into a dental patient with no or minimal pain. In accordance with one embodiment the applicator is for intraligamentary injection and includes an elongated, thin member having an open distal free formed of a resilient and somewhat conformable material suitable for producing a substantially fluid-tight interface with the anatomic structures at the gingival sulcus to inject the anesthetic therein. In another embodiment the applicator includes a flexible skirt surrounding a sharpened cannula, with the cannula being movable with respect to the skirt. The skirt is arranged to receive the anesthetic to anesthetize the gum, whereupon the cannula can then pierce the gum to inject the anesthetic into the underlying anatomic structure.