A DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PIERCING A PATIENT'S SKIN WITH AN INJECTOR WHILST ELIMINATING PAIN CAUSED BY THE PIERCING

摘要

This invention generally relates to an injector for painlessly piercing a region of a patient's skin. The injector comprises (a) piercing mechanism, comprises: (i) at least one reciprocating needle; said at least one needle is characterized by diameter K; said needle penetrates to depth D in said skin; said depth D is characterized by an initial temperature T; (ii) at least one container having a medicament to be delivered to said patient. The injector further comprises (b) cooling mechanism, comprises at least one attachable cooling means, especially a Peltier Cooled Cold Plate (PCCP), in connection with a radiator and sufficient DC power supply; said PCCP is characterized by an effective surface area S; said effective surface S is optimized such that said pain caused by said piercing is eliminated; said PCCP is characterized by temperature TiPCCP; said PCCP adapted for cooling a portion of said skin prior to and/or during and/or after piercing thereof by said piercing mechanism such that the cooling is obtained at said depth D; said depth D is cooled from said initial temperature T to a final temperature TD ( T) in a period of time t (dt) by said PCCP; said final temperature TD of said depth D is higher than about 0 and lower than about 13 degrees C; said T/dt is optimized such that said pain caused to said patient is eliminated. The injector further comprises (c) at least one aperture through which said needle is reversibly piercing said skin.