Computer-controlled Anesthetic Delivery System Research Articles

Relief of Injection Pain During Delivery of Local Anesthesia by Computer-Controlled Anesthetic Delivery System for Periodontal Surgery: Randomized Clinical Controlled Trial.

Pain from local anesthetic injection makes patients anxious when visiting a dental clinic. This study aims to determine differences in pain according to types of local anesthetizing methods and to identify the possible contributing factors (e.g., dental anxiety, stress, and sex). Thirty-one patients who underwent open-flap debridement in maxillary premolar and molar areas during treatment for chronic periodontitis were evaluated for this study. A randomized, split-mouth, single-masked clinical trial was implemented. The dental anxiety scale (DAS) and perceived stress scale (PSS) were administered before surgery. Two lidocaine ampules for each patient were used for local infiltration anesthesia (supraperiosteal injection). Injection pain was measured immediately after local infiltration anesthesia using the visual analog pain scale (VAS) questionnaire. Results from the questionnaire were used to assess degree of pain patients feel when a conventional local anesthetic technique (CNV) is used compared with a computer-controlled anesthetic delivery system (CNR). DAS and PSS did not correlate to injection pain. VAS scores were lower for CNR than for CNV regardless of the order in which anesthetic procedures were applied. VAS score did not differ significantly with sex. Pearson coefficient for correlation between VAS scores for the two procedures was 0.80, also indicating a strong correlation. Within the limitations of the present study, relief from injection pain is observed using CNR.

Comparison of the Wand with a conventional technique

The objective of the present study was to compare the Wand computer-controlled anesthetic delivery system with a conventional technique as to pain of needle insertion and the pain during injection according to the patient's dental anxiety levels. The study sample comprised 52 healthy patients about to undergo routine tooth extraction. A dental anxiety scale was used to determine anxiety levels before anesthetic administration. Anesthesia technique selection was made according to the patients' anxiety level. After each injection, patients completed pain rating score and visual analog scale to rate their pain perception during needle insertion and injection. The patients receiving the Wand system reported significantly less pain of needle insertion and less pain during injection (P < .05). Under the conditions of this study, although the anxiety levels of patients were higher in Wand injection than conventional syringe injection, the Wand seemed to be less painful. However, the mean ratings of pain were mostly mild or no pain for both injections.

A resource guide for practice development through technology

A resource guide for practice development through technology

Computer-controlled anesthetic delivery system.

We designed and tested a computer-controlled syringe pump for the administration of volatile anesthetics into a closed breathing circuit. The system consists of a small computer, a flip-flop circuit, and an automatic syringe pump. The computer was programmed to administer liquid anesthetics according to the square root of time model of anesthetic uptake. A simple electronic flip-flop circuit connected the computer to the syringe pump. Safeguards to prevent accidental anesthetic overdosage and algorithms to provide for dosage changes based on patient response were written into the program. After testing, the system was used to administer anesthetics to ten patients undergoing surgical procedures. The anesthetic uptake deviated from the square root of time model after approximately two hours. The system provided smooth and reliable administration of volatile anesthetics during closed circuit anesthesia.