Systems, methods, and devices for reducing the pain of glucose monitoring and insulin adminstration in diabetic patients

Abstract

The various embodiments disclosed herein are devices that deliver electrical stimulation and/or vibration stimulation to the surface of skin in proximity to insulin injections and/or glucose testing in order to decrease or eliminate the pain of these procedures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A combination blood testing and pain reduction device, the device comprising:
 (a) a body;   (b) a lancet housing disposed at a distal end of the body, the lancet housing comprising an opening disposed at a distal end of the lancet housing;   (c) a lancet disposed at least partially within the lancet housing, wherein the lancet comprises a retracted position disposed within the lancet housing and a deployed position wherein at least a distal portion of the lancet extends out of the lancet housing through the opening;   (d) a first stimulation component coupled to the distal end of the lancet housing, the first stimulation component comprising an electrode configured to be capable of delivering at least one of electrical stimulation and vibration stimulation; and   (e) a stimulation generating unit disposed within the body, the stimulation generating unit configured to transmit at least one of electrical energy and vibration energy to the first stimulation component.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller operably coupled to the stimulation generating unit, the controller configured to control the stimulation generating unit. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first stimulation component is a positionable stimulation component movably coupled to the distal end of the lancet housing, the positionable stimulation component configured to be movable between a testing configuration and an administration configuration, wherein the positionable stimulation component in the testing configuration is positioned against the distal end of the lancet housing, and further wherein the positionable stimulation component in the administration configuration has a portion positioned away from the distal end of the lancet housing, wherein the stimulation component in the administration configuration has a stimulation component opening defined in the stimulation component. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first stimulation component is positioned against the distal end of the lancet housing and disposed at least partially around the opening in the lancet housing. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first stimulation component comprises a removable stimulation component, wherein the removable stimulation component comprises:
 (a) a removable testing stimulation component coupleable with the distal end of the lancet housing, wherein the removable testing stimulation component is positioned against the distal end of the lancet housing; or   (b) a removable administration stimulation component coupleable with the distal end of the lancet housing, wherein the removable administration stimulation component has a portion positioned away from the distal end of the lancet housing, wherein the removable administration stimulation component has a stimulation component opening defined in the removable administration stimulation component.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is at least one of a glucose testing device, an auto lancet, an insulin auto needle injector, or an insulin pen. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second stimulation component, the second stimulation component disposed along a bottom portion of the body. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , further comprising a proximal end having a concave shape, whereby an optimal injection site is created by the second stimulation component adjacent to the concave shape of the proximal end. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , further comprising a testing strip opening defined in the proximal end of the body, the testing strip opening configured to receive a testing strip. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising a testing component operably coupled to the testing strip opening and a display operably coupled to the testing component. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the body comprises a rounded top portion configured to be easily grasped by a patient. 
     
     
         12 . A combination blood testing, treatment administration, and pain reduction device, the device comprising:
 (a) a cylindrical body;   (b) a lancet housing disposed at a distal end of the body, the lancet housing comprising an opening disposed at a distal end of the lancet housing;   (c) a lancet disposed at least partially within the lancet housing, wherein the lancet comprises a retracted position disposed within the lancet housing and a deployed position wherein at least a distal portion of the lancet extends out of the lancet housing through the opening;   (d) a positionable stimulation component movably coupled to the distal end of the lancet housing, the positionable stimulation component comprising an electrode configured to be capable of delivering at least one of electrical stimulation and vibration stimulation, wherein the positionable stimulation component is configured to be movable between a testing configuration and an administration configuration,
 wherein the positionable stimulation component in the testing configuration is positioned against the distal end of the lancet housing, and 
 further wherein the positionable stimulation component in the administration configuration has a portion positioned away from the distal end of the lancet housing, wherein the stimulation component in the administration configuration has a stimulation component opening defined in the stimulation component; 
   (e) a stimulation generating unit disposed within the body, the stimulation generating unit configured to transmit at least one of electrical energy and vibration energy to the positionable stimulation component; and   (f) a controller operably coupled to the stimulation generating unit, the controller configured to control the stimulation generating unit.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , further comprising an actuation button disposed on a proximal end of the body, the actuation button configured to actuate the lancet and the stimulation generating unit. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the device is at least one of a glucose testing device, an auto lancet, an insulin auto needle injector, or an insulin pen. 
     
     
         15 . A combination blood testing, treatment administration, and pain reduction device, the device comprising:
 (a) a body;   (b) a lancet housing disposed at a distal end of the body, the lancet housing comprising an opening disposed at a distal end of the lancet housing;   (c) a lancet disposed at least partially within the lancet housing, wherein the lancet comprises a retracted position disposed within the lancet housing and a deployed position wherein at least a distal portion of the lancet extends out of the lancet housing through the opening;   (d) a first stimulation component coupled to the distal end of the lancet housing, the first stimulation component comprising an electrode configured to be capable of delivering at least one of electrical stimulation and vibration stimulation;   (e) a second stimulation component disposed along a bottom portion of the body;   (f) a proximal end having a concave shape, whereby an optimal injection site is created by the second stimulation component adjacent to the concave shape of the proximal end;   (g) a stimulation generating unit disposed within the body, the stimulation generating unit configured to transmit at least one of electrical energy and vibration energy to the first and second stimulation components; and   (h) a controller operably coupled to the stimulation generating unit, the controller configured to control the stimulation generating unit.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , further comprising a first button operably coupled to the controller and the lancet, the first button configured to actuate the first stimulation component and the lancet. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , further comprising a second button operably coupled to the controller, the second button configured to actuate the second stimulation component. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 15 , further comprising a testing strip opening defined in the proximal end of the body, the testing strip opening configured to receive a testing strip. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , further comprising a testing component operably coupled to the testing strip opening and a display operably coupled to the testing component. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the body comprises a rounded top portion configured to be easily grasped by a patient.