Topical Analgesia Using Electrical and Vibration Stimuli

Abstract

Various embodiments disclosed herein relate to a device having a base and a stimulation module that can be attached to a patient's skin and actuated to mask the pain caused when sharp objects penetrate the skin. The stimulation module is designed to generate vibration energy, or alternatively, is designed to generate both vibration and electrical energy.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for providing topical analgesia during a procedure, the method comprising:
 contacting a base to a patient's skin, the base having at least one access area configured to allow objects to pass through the at least one access area and into the patient's skin;   coupling a stimulation module to the base such that the stimulation module is removable from the base, the stimulation module comprising a vibration stimulation generating unit;   measuring, with the base, at least one physiological variable of the patient's skin and transmitting measurements relating to the at least one physiological variable to a controller in the stimulation module; and   generating, with the vibration stimulation generating unit, vibration energy based on the measurements relating to the at least one physiological variable and thereby deliver vibration stimuli through the base to the patient's skin to provide an analgesic effect.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulation module further comprises an electrical stimulation generating unit, the method further comprising generating, with the electrical stimulation generating unit, electrical energy and thereby deliver electrical stimuli through the base to the patient's skin to provide an additional analgesic effect. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:
 inputting a control signal to the module to control the intensity and duration of the electrical stimuli and vibration stimuli; and   controlling intensity and duration of the electrical stimuli and vibration stimuli using the controller in the module.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises:
 a backing layer; and   an adhesive layer positioned against the backing layer, the adhesive layer being configured to be adherable to a patient's skin.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of coupling the module to the base further comprises the step of attaching the module to the base using one or more of ferromagnetic/electrically conductive discs, conductive buttons, conductive leads, conductive tabs, conductive hooks, conductive snaps, conductive adhesive, and hook and loop fastener to allow transmission of the vibration energy. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising removing the module from the base and disposing of the base. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 inputting a control signal to the module to control the intensity and duration of the vibration stimuli; and   controlling intensity and duration of the vibration stimuli using the controller in the module.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising initially ramping up the vibration stimuli using the controller, to avoid surprising the patient. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising automatically generating, using the module, vibration energy when connected to the base and automatically discontinuing generation of vibration energy when not in use. 
     
     
         10 . A system for providing topical analgesia during a procedure, the system comprising:
 (a) a base comprising:
 (i) a backing layer; 
 (ii) an adhesive layer positioned against the backing layer, the adhesive layer being configured to be adherable to a patient's skin; and 
 (iii) at least one access area defined by the base, the at least one access area configured to allow at least one object to pass through the access area and penetrate the patient's skin, 
 wherein the base is configured to measure at least one physiological variable of the patient's skin; 
   (b) a module removably coupleable to the base, the module configured to:   (i) receive from the base measurements relating to the at least one physiological variable; and   (ii) generate vibration energy based on the measurements in order to deliver vibration stimuli through the base and to the patient's skin to provide an analgesic effect,   wherein the vibration stimuli act to mask pain signals caused when the at least one object penetrates the patient's skin.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the module is further configured to generate electrical energy to deliver electrical stimuli through the base to the patient's skin to provide an additional analgesic effect. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the module comprises:
 a controller configured to control intensity, timing, and duration of the vibration stimuli and the electrical stimuli; and   an input component configured to allow for inputting a control signal to control the intensity, timing, and duration of the vibration stimuli and the electrical stimuli.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a coupling component configured to removably couple the module to the base, the coupling component comprising one or more of ferromagnetic/electrically conductive discs, conductive buttons, conductive leads, conductive tabs, conductive hooks, conductive snaps, conductive adhesive, or hook and loop fastener to allow transmission of the vibration energy. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the module comprises:
 a controller configured to control intensity, timing, and duration of the vibration stimuli; and   an input component configured to allow for inputting a control signal to control the intensity, timing, and duration of the vibration stimuli.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the controller is configured to initially ramp up the vibration stimuli to avoid surprising the patient. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the controller is configured to automatically actuate the module to generate the vibration energy when connected to the base and automatically actuate the module to discontinue generation of the vibration energy when not in use.