Title:  Topical anesthetic patch

United States Patent:  6,274,167

Appl. No.:  662169

A pre-vaccination or pre-procedural topical anesthetic patch which functions not unlike a nicotine patch and which is essentially a round Band-Aid.RTM. (trademark) containing a topical anesthetic. The Band-Aid.RTM. anesthetic carrying device may be of any shape or size. It is applied to a persons skin at a site where a needle is to be inserted such that the site will have a topical anesthetic applied. When the Band-Aid.RTM. is removed from the site prior to a needle being inserted a visible delineation of a target area is visible on the skin. That is, that side of the Band-Aid.RTM. which contacts the skin will contain a dye, of any color, although preferably red, in the form of a circle or any other geometric shape, smaller than the diameter or size of the Band-Aid.RTM., whereby when the Band-Aid.RTM. is removed the dye will leave a mark at the site which is the "target" area. Particularly important is the fact that once the Band-Aid.RTM. or patch is removed, prior to a needle being inserted, the target area or bull's eye or a red circle or any other color circle or geometric shape will be left on the skin which clearly delineates where the anesthetic is and, therefore, where the needle should be inserted.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided an adhesive patch, not unlike current nicotine patches, comprising an adhesive bandage backing, preferably of plastic, but possibly of other materials, which serves as the backing for the adhesive patch of this invention. On that side of the adhesive patch is a band of gauze or cotton or any other suitable absorbent material which adheres to the adhesive bandage or patch by any suitable means.

One side of the gauze pad or cotton pad maybe impermeable which is the side that adheres to the adhesive bandage backing. The other side of the pad, that is, the side which will contact the skin, is absorbent.

A quantity of the benzocaine solution is then applied to the absorbent pad and surrounding that sample or supply of benzocaine solution is a food dye or the like and in a preferred embodiment it is that circular shaped dye color the inside of which forms the target area for a needle.

In an alternate embodiment the benzocaine and dye are mixed together and again applied to the absorbent gauze pad.

In either the preferred embodiment or the alternative embodiment when the adhesive bandage is removed it will leave a target area for a needle.

For both the preferred and alternate embodiment the entire device is protected with a plastic or foil strip such that the adhesive patch is kept moist at all times. The entire device is therefore packaged as sterile as are other adhesive bandages.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an anesthetic patch principally used for but not limited to babies and small children.

It is another object of the invention to provide an anesthetic patch which is an adhesive patch to be placed on a person's skin at a site where a needle is to be inserted.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a patch comprising a pad of absorbent material such as cotton containing a topical anesthetic comprising both active and inactive ingredients.

It is yet a further object of the invention to provide such a patch wherein the active and inactive ingredients are preferably benzocaine and glycerine respectively.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide such a patch wherein the active and inactive ingredients may be of varying proportions depending upon the age of the recipient.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide such a patch wherein a skin side of the patch further contains any suitable dye material such that the site on the skin to be penetrated marks the spot of needle insertion.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide such a patch wherein a quantity of benzocaine solution is applied to the absorbent pad and surrounding that quantity of benzocaine is the dye preferably of circular shape.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide such a patch wherein the benzocaine an dye are mixed together and applied to the absorbent gauze pad.

Claim 1 of 8 Claims

What is claimed:

1. An anesthetic carrying adhesive patch attachable to a persons skin comprising:

(a) a backing;

(b) a pad attached to one side of said backing;

(c) an anesthetic solution applied to said pad; and,

(d) dye operatively associated with said pad whereby when said patch is applied to a persons skin and then removed the skin is anesthesized and a target area for reception of a needle is delineated by said dye operatively associated with said pad.

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