Patent ID: 9539171
Date: 2017-01-10
CPC Classifications: A61H,A61M

Claim:
1. An instrument for minimizing pain associated with a skin-puncturing procedure, the instrument comprising: an elongated, main body having a forward end; a lightpipe for illumination and vibration, the lightpipe mounted within an interior of the elongated, main body and having a projected end, the projected end projecting out of an interior of the forward end of the elongated, main body and projecting light therefrom; a tip having: a) a tip sleeve removably mounted on the forward end of the elongated, main body; b) a tip member rigidly and removably mounted on the projected end of the lightpipe, the tip member having a shape to vibrate a defined, pre-selected skin-puncturing site on a human or animal; and (c) an annular space between the tip sleeve and the tip member; an elastic overmold molded to a shape of the tip and connecting the tip sleeve and the tip member, the elastic overmold extending from a free end of the tip member to a forward end of the tip sleeve and filling the annular space between the tip sleeve and the tip member, whereby the annular space isolates the tip member from the tip sleeve enabling the tip member to vibrate relative to the tip sleeve and allowing light from the lightpipe to illuminate the defined, pre-selected skin-puncturing site; and a vibration unit mounted within the interior of the elongated, main body and coupled with the lightpipe to impart vibrations via the lightpipe to the tip member.