A method of using an anesthetic delivery tool for use in a transmucosal absorption application of a gel topical anesthetic agent and for use in a subdermal injection of a liquid anesthetic agent, said method comprising the steps of:
- obtaining the dental anesthetic delivery tool comprising:
- a housing unit having rear end, a front end and a continuous wall defining a hollow central cavity with a rear orifice and a front orifice, wherein the continuous wall of the housing unit including:
- a ridge inwardly extending at a first portion of the interior surface of the continuous wall;
- a lip inwardly extending at the front end of the housing unit within the central cavity;
- a ledge inwardly extending along a second portion of the interior surface, the ledge defining an orifice having a width;
- and
- a rim attached to the rear end of the housing unit, the rim defining an aperture having a width;
- a slip plate having a front surface, a rear surface and an edge, the edge of the slip plate slidably attached around the first portion of the interior surface of the continuous wall of the housing unit,
- the edge of the slip plate is attached to the ridge, the part of the central cavity between the front surface of the slip plate and the front end of the housing unit defining a front-end cavity, wherein when a forward bearing force is exerted onto the rear surface of the slip plate the slip plate is capable of sliding forward into a portion of the front-end cavity,
- the lip having a width greater than the width of the slip plate, wherein when the forward bearing force is exerted onto the rear surface of the slip plate, the slip plate is capable of sliding forward into a portion of the front-end cavity and the slip plate is not capable of sliding past the lip, whereby the slip plate is retainable within the front-end cavity of the housing unit;
- a plurality of hollow needles attached longitudinally through the slip plate, the needles having sharp-ends and butt-ends, wherein the sharp-ends of the needles extending away from the front surface of the slip plate into the front-end cavity and generally pointing towards the front end of the housing unit, wherein the butt-ends of the needles extending away from the rear surface of the slip plate and generally pointing towards the rear end of the housing unit, wherein when the forward bearing force is exerted onto the rear surface of the slip plate the slip plate is capable of sliding forward into a portion of the front-end cavity whereby extending the sharp-ends of the needles beyond the front-end cavity;
- a first aliquot of the gel topical anesthetic agent affixed onto the front-end cavity, wherein the first aliquot of the gel topical anesthetic agent covering a portion of the sharp-ends of the needles;
- a thin membrane having a rear surface, a front surface and an edge, the edge of the thin membrane continuously attached around the ledge at the second portion of the interior surface of the continuous wall of the housing unit, the thin membrane positioned behind the slip plate, the thin membrane penetrable with the butt-ends of the needles when the forward bearing force is exerted onto the rear surface of the thin membrane;
- a push plate having an exterior surface, an interior surface and an edge, the edge of the push plate attached around the rear end of the housing unit, wherein the part of the central cavity between the thin membrane and the push plate defining a rear-end cavity, the edge of the push plate comprises a sleeve and a neck,
- the sleeve having an exterior width slightly smaller than the width of the central cavity of the housing unit, the sleeve slidably attached with the inner surface of the continuous wall of the housing unit within the rear-end cavity, the sleeve having an outside surface and an inside surface, the inside surface having an interior width, wherein the inside surface of the sleeve and the interior surface of the push plate defining a hollow shaft, the hollow shaft in fluid communications with the rear-end cavity,
- the neck attached to the sleeve of the push plate, the neck having a width less than the sleeve, the neck and the sleeve defining a shoulder, wherein when the forward bearing force is exerted on the exterior surface of the push plate, the push plate is capable of sliding forwardly along the inner surface of the continuous wall of the housing unit and the shoulder of the push plate is not capable of sliding past the ledge, whereby the ledge is capable of preventing the push plate from sliding outside of the rear-end cavity,
- the orifice of the ledge having a width less than the external width of the sleeve, wherein when the forward bearing force is exerted on the exterior surface of the push plate, then the push plate is capable of sliding forwardly along the inner surface of the continuous wall of the housing unit and the push plate is not capable of sliding past the ledge, whereby the ledge is capable of preventing the push plate from sliding outside of the rear-end cavity,
- the aperture of the rim having a width less than the external width of the sleeve of the push plate, whereby the push plate is restrained within the central cavity by the rim;
- a finger protector sheet having a rear surface, a front surface, a hole and an edge, the edge of the finger protector sheet bisecting the hollow shaft of the push plate by being attached around a portion of the interior surface of the sleeve wherein the part of the hollow shaft between the finger protector sheet and the interior surface of the push plate defining a top zone of the hollow shaft, and the part of the hollow shaft between the finger protection sheet and the remaining part of the hollow shaft defining a bottom zone of the hollow shaft, the top zone in fluid communications with the bottom zone through the hole in the finger protector sheet, wherein the finger protector sheet is made of a puncture resistant material resistant to being penetrated by the butt-ends of the needles;
- a septum cap attached to the push plate;
- a spring attached to ledge, wherein when the forward bearing force is exerted on the exterior surface of the push plate, the the push plate is capable of sliding forwardly along the inner surface of the continuous wall of the housing unit and the spring is capable of contacting the push plate, whereby the spring providing resistance against the forward bearing force when the push plate slides towards the ledge;
- an second aliquot of the liquid anesthetic agent affixed within the rear-end cavity;
- an adhesive strip attached to the rim and detachably attached to a portion of the exterior surface of the push plate, wherein when the forward bearing force is exerted onto the push plate, the adhesive pad is capable of detaching from the push plate, whereby the adhesive strip maintaining the push plate against the rim until the forward bearing force is exerted onto the push plate;
- a gingival adhesive pad attached to the front end of the housing unit, the gingival adhesive pad intended to temporarily attach the housing unit onto a patient's gingival work area;
- a detachable film cover attached onto the front end of the housing unit, the film cover maintaining in place the gel topical anesthetic agent within the front-end cavity, the film cover having a pull tab;
- and
- a string attached to the housing unit;
- identifying the gingival work area in the patient's mouth;
- removing the detachable film cover from the front end of the housing unit;
- adhering the front end of the housing unit to the gingival work area in the patient's mouth;
- aligning the string outside of the patient's mouth;
- allowing time to pass so that the gel topical anesthetic agent can be transmucosally absorbed in the gingival work area in the patient's mouth;
- positioning a finger over the exterior surface of the push plate;
- exerting the forward bearing force onto the exterior surface of the push plate so that the slip plate slides forward and the sharp-ends of the needles puncture the gingival work area in the patient's mouth as well as penetrate the thin membrane and subsequently inject the liquid anesthetic agent into the surrounding tissue of the gingival work area in the patient's mouth;
- removing the finger from the exterior surface of the push plate;
- pulling the housing unit out of the patients mouth;
- and
- discarding the used housing unit.