Abstract:
A medical tattooing device is disclosed. A needle and attached needle cap have a drive spring seated against them in a pre-loaded position so that the needle and needle cap need only be released to send the needle forward and create the tattoo. Anchoring tabs temporarily anchor the needle and needle cap. A push button is used to break the tabs and release the needle. One end of the device has a seal ink reservoir. Before applying the tattoo, a tab on the reservoir is broken off to open the reservoir to passage of the needle and flow of ink. The device is placed on the skin, the button pushed to break the tabs, and the needle passes through the reservoir to apply the tattoo. A rebound spring opposing the drive spring retracts the needle the desired amount.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to an improved device for placing a permanent though inconspicuous tattoo upon a person&#39;s body. The tattoo maps a point for repeated medical treatments such as radiation therapy and allows accurate application of the treatment without spending time relocating the precise location desired. One application for the device is in radiation oncology simulation, or R.O.S. Some embodiments of the device have their own ink reservoir and the device is disposable for sanitary purposes. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Many medical treatments consist of repeatedly applying treatment to the same area of the body over a period of time. A common type of illness that requires this is cancer. Radiation treatments are applied to an afflicted area over a period of time during a series of visits to the hospital or outpatient facility. With the constant improvement in medical technology, these radiation treatments are much more narrowly focused than they once were. This reduces the level of radiation dosage required and reduces the amount of directly affected tissue. However, the treatments require greater accuracy and repeatability. Small, permanent tattoos are used to assist this accuracy. The point of application for the treatment is mapped at the initial treatment, and the tattoo is applied for subsequent treatments. This approach to radiation treatment is frequently referred to as radiation oncology simulation, or R.O.S. 
         [0003]    Tattoos themselves are indeed ancient. The basic procedure involves repeatedly perforating the skin with shallow punctures in the presence of ink, dye, or other source of pigment of the desired color. The ink enters the skin through the perforations and permanently colors the skin. The perforations may be created with a single needle or a cluster of needles held together. This procedure can be accomplished with the simplest of means, and the depth of the perforations need be through only the first three, or so, layers of skin. Shallow perforations not passing through the skin are adequate to create a tattoo and are actually preferred over deep perforations to prevent the flow of plasma. Plasma flow from the skin fades and smears the newly applied tattoo. 
         [0004]    Modern methods of tattooing use tattooing machines which drive the needle or needles in reciprocating action to perforate the skin. If a cluster of needles is used, the needles are held together with a needle bar which in turn mounts into the tattooing apparatus. These needles are disposable in consideration of general affluence and awareness of communicable infection. The needles, however, are not necessarily the only part of the tattooing apparatus that may come into contact with a body or bodily fluids. For this reason, some apparatuses use a disposable guide surrounding the needle as well. More developed tattooing machines also have a means of delivering ink to the skin during the tattooing process. For these apparatuses, the needle, needle holder, and needle guide can connect with a driver mechanism and ink supply modularly and can then be thrown away after one use. 
         [0005]    For the purpose of applying a medical tattoo, a full size tattooing machine is not necessary. The tattoo is usually quite small. The need is much more defined by simplicity of use, cost effectiveness, disposable sanitary methods, and painless application of the tattoo. Because of the smallness of the tattoo, it is not an uncommon practice to use ink from a common source. Small amounts of ink are drawn or dipped from this common source and applied to the skin where a tattoo will be applied. This repeated contact with the ink source conflicts with sanitary requirements. In addition to contamination from a common ink source, excessive amounts of ink may be introduced into or beneath the skin. A mark resulting from excessive ink, or too deep an application of ink, is frequently unnecessarily large and can diffuse around the application puncture site. The result is a large unsightly tattoo that is permanent. Frequently, such a tattoo is an all too visible reminder of an extremely unpleasant period in a patient&#39;s life. With pre-loaded elastic drive, limitation to a single use, and self-contained ink reservoir, the disclosed embodiments meet the needs of simplicity, cost effectiveness, and sanitation that the prior art does not adequately address. The pre-calibrated force applied by the elastic drive keeps the needle penetration shallow and painless. 
         [0006]    In addition to the mechanical improvements the current invention makes over prior art and methods, the described embodiments make further improvements through the selection of ink. Inks used in the prior art are difficult to be seen in several situations. If the receiver of the medical tattoo has dark skin, the location for the medical tattoo coincides with a previously acquired art tattoo, or if a birth mark or other natural skin coloration coincides with the target area, the medical tattoo will lack the desired visibility. In one of its embodiments, the current invention utilizes an ink that is invisible under normal lighting conditions, but illuminates under ultraviolet light. This provides a medical tattoo that is visible only when it is desired for it to be visible. 
       DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
       [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,699,784 by G. M. Krayl is for an apparatus for piercing the skin. It consists of a long tubular body being hollow on the inside and having caps on each end. In the central portion of the hollow body are a spring, a plunger with a striking face that is propelled by the spring, and a piercing needle which is struck by the plunger. Each end cap has an aperture through it. At one end, the plunger extends beyond the tubular body and has a cap attached to it. The cap is used to draw back the plunger and cock the spring and plunger. Along the side of the body of the apparatus is attached a latch which protrudes through an opening in the side of the body to catch the striking member. This latch retains the striking member in a cocked position and is tripped to release the striking member to strike the needle. The needle extends through the aperture through the other end cap to pierce the skin. The needle pierces through the skin for blood samples, etc. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,709 by Ramel is a lancing device for piercing the skin. The overall shape of the device is cylindrical. At a closed end of the device is a seat where a spring is seated as well as the carrier for the lancing needle. This end also has hooked tabs which hold the carrier of the needle in a cocked position with the spring compressed behind the needle carrier. On the opposite end and extending out from the end of the cylindrical body is the trigger device. The trigger itself is a hollow cylinder and its inner diameter accommodates the carrier of the needle when the carrier is propelled by the spring. In use, the trigger, which extends past the end of the overall apparatus body, is driven back when the apparatus is pressed against the skin. When it is driven back, the trigger&#39;s interior end presses against the hooked tabs that restrain the needle carrier and spring. This spreads the hooked tabs and releases the needle carrier to be driven by the spring to the exposed end of the trigger. The needle extends through the exposed end of the trigger and pierces the skin. With this configuration, the apparatus achieves a lancing of the skin with a device that may be triggered by merely pressing it against the skin. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,574 by Lloyd, et al. is a disposable lancet which uses a leaf spring to hold the lancet in a retracted position as opposed to using a spring to drive the lancet. The overall structure of the device is a cross consisting of two crossing members. One of the crossing members is larger than the other with the shorter crossing member being located closer to one end of the larger crossing member. These crossing members are perpendicular. The lance of the apparatus is located internal to the larger crossing member and near the end of the longer section. A leaf spring located internal of the shorter crossing member biases the lance to a normal retracted position. A button located at the short end of the larger crossing member is capable of driving the lance to extend it out of the long end of the larger crossing member. In operation, the lancet device is placed in contact with the skin at the long end of the longer crossing member and fingers are used to hold the device with the shorter crossing members. The thumb is used to press the button to extend the lancet and overcome the resistance of the leaf spring. The lancet extends and pierces the skin. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,208,452 by J. J. Stern is a device for lancing the skin or otherwise scarifying it for the application of medicine to the scarified skin. It comprises an overall cylindrical body, with the scarifying needles at one end. A button or handle extends from the other end. From the sides of the cylindrical body, extend two levers which may be used to anchor the fingers with a thumb being able to be pressed on the handle or button extended from one end of the cylindrical body. Within the cylindrical body, the cylindrical carrier of the needles is restrained by balls which rest on a annular shoulder on the inner diameter of the apparatus body and which engage notches in the cylinder. A shaft attached to the button and/or handle passes through the body on down to the needle carrier. The shaft advances when the button is pushed and begins to compress a spring situated against the needle carrier. As the shaft advances, notches in the shaft come into alignment with the notches in the carrier which allows the balls to disengage from the annular shoulder in the inner diameter of the body cylinder. This releases the shaft and carrier to be driven by the compressed spring and pushes the scarifying needles to extend from the apparatus and mark, puncture, or otherwise abrade the surface of the skin. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,685,719, by Matera Jr., discloses an apparatus for dispensing tattoo ink and a method of using the same. The apparatus includes an ink cartridge, a leading cap, and a trailing cap. The ink cartridge has a slight conical shape with a small tube leading from the main chamber of the ink cartridge to the smaller end of the ink cartridge which is the ink dispensing tip. The leading cap covers this dispensing tip of the ink cartridge, while the trailing cap is used to seal the larger end of the ink cartridge after it has been filled. An ultrasonic weld is the contemplated method of sealing the trailing cap to the ink cartridge. 
         [0012]    The apparatus is used by removing the leading cap and allowing ink to flow from the reservoir in the ink cartridge to the tip of the ink cartridge. The ink cartridge may be squeezed to cause ink to flow, or a gravity feed may also be used. In addition to the ink cartridge, the leading cap, and the trailing cap, a needle having a lumen may also be used with the apparatus. The needle would fit over the leading edge of the ink cartridge where the ink is dispensed and the lumen passes along its length. Squeezing the cartridge would cause ink to travel from the cartridge down through lumen in the needle to its tip, where it could be used to mark the skin for whatever purposed desired. This method introduces a relatively large quantity of ink below the skin. In the alternative, the ink may merely be applied to the skin, and a needle used after the fact to conduct the ink into the skin. Here again, this method will likely result in actual puncturing of the skin and excessive ink being deposited in the skin. There is also a patent application Ser. No. 10/757,009, pending from the same initial application as the issued patent, U.S. Pat. No. 6,685,719. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,862, by Pilmanis, uses several needles clustered together as the central feature of the invention. The needles are arranged so that their pointed ends form a plane at a sixty degree angle to the long dimension of the needles. They are held in this arrangement by a small mass of solidified glue. 
         [0014]    In addition to the bundle of needles, the device has a holder, an elongated tube and a cap. The holder is the part that actually holds the bundle of needles and it screws onto the end of the elongated tube. A resilient biasing device placed within the long tube presses against the back of the needles and keeps them in place in the holder. The cap may be placed over the holder to cover the needles or removed and placed over the end of the long tube. In an alternative embodiment, rather than a resilient member pressing at the back of the needles, glue may be used to hold the bundle of needles in place. It is envisioned that with the embodiment that uses an elastic member to hold the needles in place, the elastic member and the needles would be able to be sold separately as a replacement set for the apparatus. The invention in Pilmanis does not include a reservoir for pigment and appears to rely upon application of the pigment directly to the skin and perforation of the skin with the device claimed in Pilmanis to achieve the tattoo desired or the infusion of the pigment into the skin. 
         [0015]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,665,912 by Burton discloses and claims a device for transferring pigment into the skin that is very similar to a common ballpoint pen. The pen-like structure has a small ink reservoir at the end where the ballpoint would normally extend. This reservoir is interior to the body. Within that reservoir, in a normally retracted position, a needle is held, which may be advanced and retracted in a means similar to the pen and ink cartridge of a ballpoint pen. The opening at the end of the body of this device is sized to fit closely about the needle when the needle is extended but there is enough of a gap that ink may still flow due to capillary action. The device is put into use by extending the needle and allowing this capillary flow to bring a bead of ink to the end of the opening where the needle is extended. The ink is deposited to the surface, and then the skin is perforated by the needle repeatedly to allow the ink to transfer through and into the skin. Alternatively, the needle may be retracted and the ink then flows to the tip of the invention and is applied to the skin. Then the needle is extended, and again, used to perforate the skin. Generally this device is intended to be used to apply a more permanent eyeliner for makeup purposes. Internal to the device, above the area where the ink reservoir is located, seals may be put in place so that the ink may not traverse up higher into the device where springs and other small mechanisms are located which allow the needle to be extended and retracted. 
         [0016]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,927 B1 by Koplen is directed to a tattooing system that is intended to be easier to clean. The system comprises a tube member which has a first end for receiving the drive unit, a threaded end for receiving a replaceable ink reservoir, and a central channel for receiving a tattoo needle which extends from the drive unit, through the tube member, and on through the replaceable reservoir tip to extend out where the ink will be applied. The tip member having the reservoir also has threads on its internal surface matched to the threads on the tip of the tube member. The tip and reservoir are placed on the end of the tube member by engaging these threads and the surfaces between the two members are adapted to seal once the tip is placed on the tube member. To use the device, the drive unit is engaged, and the needle is driven with the reciprocating motion to extend out beyond the tip, alternatively retracting within the reservoir. In so doing, the needle carries ink upon its surface, so that when it is held proximate to the skin, the needle pierces the skin and takes ink with it into the skin. The results are multiple piercings of the skin to a shallow, desired depth with these piercings being infused with indelible ink. The intention of this invention is to provide an easily cleaned device that may be reused with a lower incidence of contamination. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The apparatus of the present invention relates to applying small medical tattoos for the purpose of accurately locating recurring medical treatments. In the described embodiments, the apparatus is capable of producing only a single tattoo after which it is discarded for sanitary purposes. Also for sanitary purposes, the apparatus may carry its own ink reservoir through which the tattooing needle passes to transfer ink to the recipient&#39;s skin. This avoids the use of a common ink supply for several different persons. The apparatus has a hollow body, and in some embodiments of the invention, some portion of that hollow body contains an ink reservoir. Also within the hollow body, a tattoo needle is located. An elastic drive member is pre-loaded, temporarily anchored, and ready to drive the tattoo needle. The device has a means for overcoming the temporary anchor of the elastic drive member to release the drive member to drive the tattoo needle through the reservoir and apply the tattoo. Alternatively, ink from an ink supply separate from the claimed device could be applied to the skin and then the device used to mark the skin, or the ink reservoir could be located on the device and the ink applied to the skin before marking with the device without requiring the needle to pass through the reservoir. 
         [0018]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0019]    Accordingly those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this invention is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit of the present invention. 
         [0020]    Furthermore, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially including the practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patents or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection, the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, nor is it intended to be limiting to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    Additional utility and features of the invention will become more fully apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following drawings, which illustrate the primary features of several embodiments including a preferred embodiment. 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  shows a cross section of a first embodiment of the invention before being used. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  shows the unmoving components of a first embodiment in an exploded arrangement. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  shows the moving components of a first embodiment in an exploded arrangement. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged side view of the needle cap of the needle assembly of a first embodiment. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged top view of the needle cap of the needle assembly of a first embodiment. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a cross section view of a first embodiment in the plane indicated in  FIG. 1  showing the needle cap held by a catch. 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of the piercing end of the needle. 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  shows a cross section of the first embodiment with the needle extended to apply the tattoo. 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  shows a cross section of a second embodiment of the invention before being used. 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  shows a cross section of the second embodiment of  FIG. 9  with the needle extended to apply the tattoo. 
           [0032]      FIG. 11  shows the moving parts of the second embodiment of  FIG. 9  in an exploded arrangement. 
           [0033]      FIG. 12  shows a cross section of the body end and button mechanism of the second embodiment of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 13  is a cross section of a third embodiment that starts with a drive spring in tension before being used. 
           [0035]      FIG. 14  is a cross section of the third embodiment that starts with a drive spring in tension with the needle extended to apply the tattoo. 
           [0036]      FIG. 15  is a cross section of a fourth embodiment that comprises features of both the first and second embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0037]    The detailed description below is for multiple embodiments and is intended to explain the current invention. It is to be understood that a variety of other arrangements are also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Generally, the embodiments include; a hollow body, a needle assembly temporarily anchored within the hollow body, means for overcoming the temporary anchoring of the needle assembly, a first elastic member that is pre-loaded to drive the needle assembly when the temporary anchoring means is overcome, and in some embodiments, an ink reservoir and a second elastic member to retract the needle assembly after the tattoo has been created. 
         [0038]    xxx FIG. 1  shows a cross section of a first embodiment of the mapping device  10  before being used. The structural components of the device  10  comprise a hollow body  20 , an end cap  30 , reservoir end  40  as well as needle guide  50  and diaphragm  60  located between body  20  and reservoir end  40 . The moving parts of mapping device  10  are visible within the hollow space viewable in the cross section view  FIG. 1 . These moving parts include button assembly  70 , of which button  71  is most visible, drive spring  80  or first elastic member, rebound spring  90  or second elastic member, and a needle assembly, of which needle  101  is most visible. 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIG. 2  which shows the unmoving components in an exploded arrangement, body  20  will be considered first. Within hollow body  20  there are three sections. On the same end of body  20  as reservoir end  40  is needle tube  21 . The inner diameter of body  20  in the needle tube  21  section is sized to accommodate a slip fit with needle  101  as seen in previous  FIG. 1 . Needle tube  21  is the shortest section within body  20 . Spring guide  22  is the central section of body  20  and its internal diameter is sized to provide a slip fit for rebound spring  90 , needle cap  102 , and drive spring  80 . Needle cap  102  may be seen more clearly in  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4 , and  FIG. 5 , and it may be seen in body  20  in  FIG. 8 , and  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 6  as located by seat rim  104 . The spring guide  22  section of body  20  is the longest of the three sections, but its inner diameter is sized between the inner diameter of the other two sections. The final section within body  20  runs from spring guide  22  to the end of body  20  that is covered by end cap  30 . This section, or button chamber  23 , has a larger inner diameter than its neighboring section in body  20 , spring guide  22 . 
         [0040]    The differing inner diameters between the three internal sections of body  20  requires some transition between the sections. In the first embodiment, these transitions are perpendicular to the axis of body  20 . The transition between button chamber  23  and spring guide  22  produces catch  24  which is used to temporarily anchor needle assembly  100 . The transition between spring guide  22  and needle tube  21  is larger than catch  24  and its proximity to the end of body  20  causes it to function as a shaft bottom  25 . At each end of body  20 , external threads  26  on its outer diameter provide for coupling with end cap  30  and reservoir end  40 . 
         [0041]    Still referring to  FIG. 2 , separated end cap  30  may be seen more clearly. End cap  30  is cylindrical and in the form of a slightly elongated hoop with one end partially closed. On the inside rim  31  of end cap  30  are internal threads  32  which couple with external threads  26  of body  20  to hold the two together. Opposite the internally threaded inside rim  31  is top  33  of end cap  30 , through which button aperture  34  passes. As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , button  71  of button assembly  70  passes through button aperture  34 . The part of top  33  not precluded by button aperture  34  forms button seat  35  internal of end cap  30 . 
         [0042]    Referring again to  FIG. 2 , separated reservoir end  40  may also be seen more clearly. Reservoir end  40  has three sections; coupling section  41 , reservoir  42 , and end tab  43 . Coupling section  41  and reservoir  42  are hollow sections. Coupling section  41  has an inner diameter and internal threads  44  which couple with external threads  26  on the outer diameter of needle tube  21  of body  20 . Reservoir  42  is generally conical on its internal and external surface and tapers from a larger cross section at the junction between coupling section  41  and reservoir  42  to a smaller cross section at the junction of reservoir  42  and end tab  43 . End tab  43  is solid, but it is detachable from reservoir  42  at the reduced end of reservoir  42 . A further reduced neck  45  at the junction between reservoir  42  and end tab  43  facilitates the removal of end tab  43 . 
         [0043]    Referring still to the exploded view of  FIG. 2 , needle guide  50  and diaphragm  60  are located between body  20  and reservoir end  40  with needle guide  50  placed against main shaft  20 . Both needle guide  50  and diaphragm  60  are thin disks, but needle guide  50  is thicker than diaphragm  60  and has a guide aperture  51  through it. Diaphragm  60  serves to seal the large end of reservoir  42  in reservoir end  40 . 
         [0044]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the moving elements of the first embodiment can be seen removed from body  20  and in an exploded arrangement. At the left, button assembly  70  is shown. At the left end of button assembly  70  in  FIG. 3  is button  71 , which may be seen protruding in  FIG. 1  from end cap  30  of device  10 . Button assembly  70  is generally cylindrical in shape but has several different diameters along the length of its axis. After button  71  comes button rim  72  which is how button assembly  70  is maintained in its position. Next to that is button hub  73  which is sized to fit within drive spring  80  which is shown next to button assembly  70  in  FIG. 3 . Punch  74  extends from button hub  73  and is the longest section of button assembly  70 . When device  10  is fully assembled, punch  74  is directed towards needle assembly  100  and is in close proximity to it in the assembled position. 
         [0045]    Next to button assembly  70  is drive spring  80  which is a compression spring. Drive spring  80  fits over punch  74  and button hub  73  of button assembly  70 . Its other end presses up against needle cap  102  of needle assembly  100  and is placed in compression holding each of those elements in their positions. Drive spring  80  is in a pre-loaded state while holding these elements in position. 
         [0046]    As just stated, drive spring  80  interacts with needle assembly  100  at its right in  FIG. 3 . Needle assembly  100  comprises two major components. They are needle  101  and needle cap  102 . Needle  101  has a piercing end  103  and its other, non-piercing end is covered by needle cap  102 . Central on needle cap  102  is seat rim  104 , either side of which provides a spring seat. On the left side of needle cap  102  is drive hub  105  which fits within drive spring  80 . That side of seat rim  104 , therefore, provides a seat for drive spring  80 . On the opposing side of needle cap  102  is rebound hub  106  which fits into rebound spring  90  and that side of seat rim  104  is the seat for rebound spring  90 . Extending from seat rim  104  perpendicular to the length of needle assembly  100  are anchoring tabs  107 . In assembled location, anchoring tabs  107  rest upon catch  24  of body  20  shown in  FIG. 2  and provide a temporary anchoring means for needle assembly  100 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 4  shows an enlarged detail of needle cap  102 . Looking at  FIG. 4 , it can easily be seen that where anchoring tab  107  joins seat rim  104 , anchoring tab  107  is reduced to create fracture notch  108 . Fracture notch  108  ensures that anchoring tabs  107  break off right at seat rim  104  and thus allow needle assembly  100  to pass easily through needle tube  21  of body  20 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 5  shows needle cap  102  from the drive hub  105  end of needle cap  102 , while  FIG. 6  shows a cross section view in the plane indicated in  FIG. 1  showing anchoring tabs  107  of needle cap  102  resting on catch  24 . Guide notches  109  in seat rim  104  ride along guide rails  27  as needle assembly  100  is driven through needle tube  21  of body  20 . Guide notches  109  and guide rails  27  keep needle assembly  100  aligned as it passes through body  20 . A guide rail  27  may be seen in  FIG. 2  with the working elements of the tattooing device removed. As can be seen in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , in the first embodiment, anchoring tabs  107  are positioned ninety degrees around from guide notches  109  and guide rails  27 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 7  shows piercing end  103  of needle  101  in more detail. Piercing end  103  may be comprised of several smaller needles affixed to needle  101 . These may be soldered along their lengths or otherwise fixed together as well as fixed to the shaft of needle  101 . This provides a means of applying a tattoo having more than a single dot, which will, therefore, be more visible. 
         [0050]    Having thus described elements of the mapping device  10 , reference will be made to  FIG. 1  once again, as well as  FIG. 8 , to discuss the workings of the device  10 . Looking at  FIG. 1 , the components of device  10  may be seen in assembly and in a pre-loaded state. Button assembly  70  is located in the left end of device  10  and it is held in place by drive spring  80  which is in compression between button assembly  70  and needle assembly  100 . This also holds needle assembly  100  in place at catch  24  within body  20 . To use the device to apply a tattoo, the end tab  43  is broken off of reservoir end  40  and the device is placed upon the skin at the location where the tattoo is desired. Button  71  is depressed driving punch  74  against needle cap  102  until anchoring tabs  107  are overcome and break. At that time, drive spring  80 , which is under compression, pushes needle assembly  100  through needle tube  21 , and piercing end  103  of needle  101  punctures diaphragm  60 , passes through reservoir end  40 , extends out of device  10 , perforates the skin with ink present, and, thereby, creates a tattoo in the skin.  FIG. 8  shows the apparatus after anchoring tabs  107  have been overcome, diaphragm  60  has been punctured, and needle  101  is extended from reservoir end  40  to pierce the skin and create a tattoo. Subsequently, rebound spring  90  will retract needle  101  so that piercing end  103  is retracted into reservoir end  40 . 
         [0051]      FIGS. 9 and 10  show an alternative embodiment of device  10 . Where possible and appropriate, the same numbers will be used for the same features. The two embodiments are essentially the same from the drive spring  80  to end tab  43  on reservoir end  40 . The essential differences between the first embodiment and the second embodiment is in the method of actuating punch  74  that overcomes and breaks off anchoring tabs  107  and releases needle assembly  100 . The mechanism used in this embodiment is a cam and cam follower. In this case, the cam is a very simple wedge arrangement. As can be seen in  FIG. 9 , an aperture  28  in the side of body  20  allows the cam button  110  of this mechanism to protrude from the side of body  20 . The sides of cam button  110  taper from large to small as they pass from the inside of device  10  to the outside so that cam button  110  is maintained in its position before device  10  is used. 
         [0052]    Referring now to  FIG. 11 , the button mechanism is shown outside of body  20  and in an exploded view. New numbering will be used for the new pieces in this assembly. However, for the drive spring  80  and needle assembly  100 , no new numbers are needed. 
         [0053]    Referring to  FIG. 11 , cam button  110  is sized and shaped to fit aperture  28  as shown in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 . Cam button  110  also has extending into the interior of body  20  a cam surface  111 , oblique to the axis of body  20 . In the second embodiment as shown, cam surface  111  is flat and does not have any curvature. 
         [0054]    Also in  FIG. 11 , punch assembly  120  is shown, which is in some parts the same as button assembly  70  of the prior embodiment. The similarities include punch  121 , punch hub  122 , and punch rim  123 . Drive spring  80  fits over punch  121  and punch hub  122  just as drive spring  80  fits over punch  74  and button hub  73  on the previous embodiment. Punch rim  123  fits closely within button chamber  23  as before and keeps punch assembly  120  aligned. To the left of punch rim  123  are follower surface  124  and guide surface  125 . Follower surface  124  is oblique to the axis of body  20  and is at an angle to match cam surface  111  of cam button  110 . Guide surface  125  is shaped to fit the contour of body  20 . An additional element of this embodiment is spacer pin  126 . Spacer pin  126  nests into a cavity in punch assembly  120  at one end, while its other end braces at the closed end of body  20 . Spacer pin  126  keeps drive spring  80  in a pre-loaded state and keeps the assembly in place. 
         [0055]      FIG. 12  shows the portion of the second embodiment that is different from the first with drive spring  80  of other figures removed. This shows the interaction of the pieces more clearly. Also cam button  110  is simplified to more clearly show the cam surfaces and wedging effect. Cam button  110  extends through aperture  28  to where cam surface  111  is in parallel with follower surface  124  of punch assembly  120 . Spacer pin  126  maintains the location of punch assembly  120  and biases it towards needle cap  102  of needle assembly  100 . Guide surface  125  maintains contact with the inside of body  20 . Referring now back to  FIGS. 9 and 10  showing the full assembly, where  FIG. 9  is before use of device  10  and  FIG. 10  is after use, it can be seen in  FIG. 10  that cam button  110  has advanced into the interior of body  20 , cam surface  111  has made contact with follower surface  124 , and cam surface  111  has driven punch assembly  120  down to press needle cap  102  of needle assembly  100 . Anchoring tabs  107  on needle assembly  100  have broken off and needle assembly  100  has passed down through spring guide  22  and piercing end  103  of needle assembly  100  has passed through diaphragm  60 , and reservoir  42  of reservoir end  40  to extend beyond the end of reservoir end  40 . Rebound spring  90  is now in contact with shaft bottom  25  and the working parts of device  10  have reached an extended position where the extended needle  101  would pierce the skin that it was placed near and create a tattoo from the ink present from reservoir  42 . Subsequently, rebound spring  90  will move the assembly back to a new static position with piercing end  103  retracted back into reservoir  42 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14  show an alternative embodiment of the tattoo device which uses an elastic member in tension for the motive force. Body  130  of this embodiment has a needle tube  131  at one end as in the prior discussed embodiments, but the balance of its internal section is single diameter with the exception of the end which retains the button assembly and needle assembly which are combined in this embodiment. This end is open with the exception of the restriction caused by anchoring tabs  132  which are located on body  130  and protrude into the internal section of body  130 . These anchoring tabs  132  temporarily restrain button and needle assembly  150 . Both button and needle assembly  150  and body  130  have anchor points on them which allow an elastic member to be fixed to them. Pull spring  140  has one end anchored within body  130  at the end where needle tube  131  is located while its other end is anchored to button and needle assembly  150 . Initially, pull spring  140  is pre-loaded in tension. Reservoir end  40  is constructed similar to reservoir end  40  in the previous embodiments and is located over the end of body  130  where needle tube  131  is located. To use the device, tab end  43  is broken off of reservoir end  40  and device  10  is placed near the skin. Pressing the exposed button of button and needle assembly  150  protruding from the end of body  130  causes anchoring tabs  132  to break and button and needle assembly  150  is released and pull spring  140  pulls button and needle assembly  150  through the interior of body  130 . The needle extends through needle tube  131  and reservoir end  40  to place a tattoo on the skin. The unloaded state of pull spring  140  is such that its coils do not pull in flat against each other, but rather there are spaces between the coils and pull spring  140  also acts as a rebound string. After the tattoo is created, pull spring  140  moves button and needle assembly  150  back into body  130  with piercing end  103  retracted into reservoir  42 . This embodiment uses a spring, or elastic member, pre-loaded in tension for its motive force compared to the springs in compression in the prior embodiments. This configuration would even allow an elastic band to provide the motive force for driving the needle with an elastic diaphragm providing the means of retracting the piercing end the small distance required to move the needle tip back into the reservoir. 
         [0057]      FIG. 15 . illustrates an embodiment of the invention that comprises features of both the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and  FIGS. 9 and 10  and associated figures. The features combined in this embodiment allows the mark to be applied by pushes either a side button or an end button. This gives more versatility in how the device is held when a mark is applied to different locations on the body. 
         [0058]    The assembly comprising needle  101  and needle cap  102  is restrained at anchoring tabs  107  by catch  24 . Drive spring  80  is compressed between needle cap  102  and punch rim  123  of punch assembly  120 . As with the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  and associated figures, punch assembly  120  has a follower surface  124  that is contacted by the cam surface  111  on cam button  110  which protrudes through the side of body  20 . In this embodiment, punch assembly  120  is held in place by spacer pin  126  which partially inserts into button assembly  70 . Much as in the first embodiment discussed, button  71  on button assembly  70  protrudes out the end of device  10 , but in that first embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , end cap  30  provides the stop for button  71 . In the present embodiment, body  20  is constructed in two segments, and the end through which button  71  protrudes has an inside rim  31 , which button rim  72  presses against. Button rim  72  maintains button assembly  70  in its place against compressed drive spring  80  which is pushing against punch rim  123  and then through spacer pin  126  on into button assembly  70 . The two segments of body  20  are connected at joint  160 . Whether an end cap construction is used, or whether body  20  is constructed in two pieces with an inside rim  31  built into the appropriate piece to restrain button  71 , is a matter of manufacturing preference. The different embodiments shown in the drawings having different methods of assembly should illustrate the several ways of accomplishing the invention and should not be regarded as limiting the scope of the invention in any way. 
         [0059]    Pressing cam button  110  causes cam surface  111  to engage follower surface  124  which moves punch assembly  120  until anchoring tabs  107  break, releasing the needle assembly to be driven by drive spring  80  and apply the mark. Alternatively, pressing button  71  drives spacer pin  126  into punch assembly  120 , again moving punch assembly  120  until anchoring tabs  107  break and release the needle assembly. This gives more versatility to using the device. 
         [0060]    Each of the embodiments discussed above may use different inks. One embodiment uses an ink that is normally not visible, but becomes visible when exposed to light of predominantly narrow spectrum such as ultraviolet light. This allows the tattoo to remain invisible in normal light but visible when needed. 
         [0061]    Having provided detailed descriptions of several embodiments, it should be noted that there are several means to vary the specific sizing and arrangement but still accomplish the overall goal of the invention. It should be obvious from this that there are numerous embodiments subsumed in the present invention and the scope of this invention should not be limited by the discussion of the embodiments above. Neither the specification, nor the abstract, should be taken as an exhaustive illustration of the invention. 
         [0062]    For example, end tab  43  common to several embodiments serves as a removable seal for reservoir end  40 . This function can be served by several known means such as a plug, or thin membrane. While not illustrated, these methods would also seal the reservoir end for purposes of the instant invention. Similarly, needle guide  50  and diaphragm  60  could easily be combined by placing a laminate on a substrate. The attributes of sealing and guiding would still be accomplished with slight changes in the arrangements. 
         [0063]    As to the shape of the body of the device being a shaft as in body  20 , this is merely a result of one method of fabrication and should not be regarded as a defining limitation. Should another method of fabrication, such as a clam shell assembly be selected, the possible shapes for the body of the device would be nearly unlimited. 
         [0064]    Interrelated with the shape of the body of the device is the elastic drive means. The previously described embodiments of the invention, utilize elastic drive means capable of operating in a linear fashion. Differing the structure of the body would allow other elastic drive means such as cantilever springs, leaf springs, or elastic bands acting transverse to their length. Also, interrelated with the method of fabricating the body and its shape, is the particular means of guiding the needle. 
         [0065]    As discussed previously, the temporary anchoring means for the needle assembly and pre-loaded elastic drive may also vary. If break-away tabs are used, the tabs themselves may be located on the needle assembly or on the device body. Break-away tabs are not the only possible temporary anchoring means. The temporary anchoring means may comprise flexible pegs engaging recesses. Also an interference fit between the device body and the needle assembly which may be overcome by a user but not by the elastic drive means is a possible temporary anchoring means, along with various latching and tripping means widely known. For overcoming the temporary anchoring means, a linear punch and a cam driven punch have already been discussed. There are numerous means such as levers and various mechanical trips which could also be used and be within the scope of the current invention.