Apparatus and method for minimizing pain perception

A modular system for obtaining a blood sample from a subject with reduced pain perception, said system comprising:

• a housing;
• a removable module disposed within the housing, said module having a receiving surface constructed to contact a portion of the subject's skin, said receiving surface having an opening therethrough;
• an invasive sharp moveably disposed within the removable module such that the invasive sharp reciprocates between a first position in which the invasive sharp is withdrawn from the receiving surface within the module and a second position in which at least a portion of the invasive sharp protrudes through the opening in the receiving surface;
• and
• a vibratory mechanism associated with the receiving surface such that the vibratory mechanism transmits vibrations through the receiving surface and to the subject's skin to reduce pain perception, the vibratory mechanism transmitting vibrations having a frequency between about 5 Hz and about 150 Hz.

A method of reducing a subject's pain perception during a medical procedure, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) supporting an invasive sharp with respect to a receiving surface, said receiving surface having an opening therethrough for passage of the invasive sharp;
• b) vibrating the receiving surface while contacting at least a portion of the receiving surface with a portion of the subject's skin to vibrate the subject's skin for a period of time sufficient to reduce the subject's pain perception proximate a contact point, said vibrating step comprising the step of vibrating the receiving surface at a frequency between about 5 Hz and about 150 Hz;
• c) piercing the subject's skin with the sharp while the skin is contacting the receiving surface;
• and
• d) withdrawing the sharp from the subject's skin.

An apparatus for reducing a subject's pain perception during a medical procedure, said apparatus comprising:

• a receiving surface constructed to contact a portion of the subject's skin, said receiving surface having an opening therethrough;
• a vibratory mechanism associated with the receiving surface such that the vibratory mechanism transmits vibrations through the receiving surface and to the subject's skin to reduce pain perception, said vibratory mechanism including a roughened roller unit moveably disposed relative to the receiving surface such that movement of the roller unit transmits vibrations through the receiving surface;
• and
• an invasive sharp supported with respect to said receiving surface and moveably disposed with respect to said receiving surface, said invasive sharp reciprocating between a first position in which the invasive sharp is spaced from the receiving surface, away from the subject's skin, and a second position in which at least a portion of the invasive sharp protrudes through the opening in the receiving surface.