NeedleBuster Photo Essay

How to use Life-Tech's NeedleBuster^tm
Iontophoretic Topical Anesthesia System

Disclaimer: this photo essay is not endorsed by the manufacturer of the NeedleBuster device and should not be used as the sole instruction in the use of this prescription device. Review the manufacturer's instructions with your physician before you attempt to use this device.

Last update: May 12, 2006
copyright 2006 by The Needle Phobia Information Center (NPIC), all rights reserved

Step	Click on the image to see an enlarged image Procedure Image	There are many steps and it takes some practice...don't worry if it doesn't work the first time. Keep practicing until you know the procedure by heart. Description of procedure
1		Outline or mark the area to receive the needle. This is important because the marks will serve later to show the area which has been anesthetized. If you do the NeedleBuster treatment at home first, you will need to know in advance where the needle puncture is to be made.
2		Swab the area with an alcohol swab: start in the middle of the marked area and swab in an expanding circular motion.
3		Choose a large area about 6-10 inches away from the intended treatment area to be used for the return electrode. Swab the area with an alcohol swab. Make sure you choose a large enough area to accommodate the return electrode...you will need an area about 5" in diameter.
4		Peel the backing off of the round return electrode and place it on the spot you choose. Do the same for the square medication electrode and place it on the marked spot where the needle stick is planned to be made.
5		View of electrodes ready to receive the procedure fluids.
6		Begin by squirting the return electrode buffer solution (salt water) into each of the 4 holes. Instill enough fluid to evenly cover the electrode pad...continue slow squirting until fluid pours out the bottom holes. You are trying to evenly fully soak the pad inside th electrode.
7		Now squirt the Lidocaine medication into the square medication electrode. Put a small amount into each of the 4 holes until it seeps out. You are trying to fully soak the electrode's pad.
8		Squeeze the black electrode clip and release it on the return snap electrode. Place the red clip on the medication electrode as shown.
9		Attach the plug end of the electrode wires to the NeedleBuster's top electrode sockets. It is convenient to have the patient hold the device, or place it on an adjacent table.
10		Be certain that the CURRENT dial is set to its lowest setting, .5ma. Next, turn on the device by depressing the ON button until the power indicator lamp lights. It is marked "PWR". If the BAT light is on, replace the battery with a fresh one. A good/strong battery is required! Important: if the OPN indicator is on, it means you have an open connection somewhere and the treatment will not work. Play with the electrode wires and electrodes ensuring they are adequately soaked with their correct fluids. Sometimes just waiting a few minutes after its all hooked up is enough. Do not proceed until the OPN light is extinguished because your efforts will be invain - without a closed circuit the treatment will not work because the NeedleBuster will not send out the electric current needed.
11		Then, turn the TIME dial to the 15 minute setting. Finally, turn the CURRENT dial slowly. The patient will feel a tingling sensation which may be uncomfortable for some patients, especially if you 'zap' them by starting the unit on the highest setting. Ask the patient to tell you when to stop. Normally, you can go all the way up to 4 ma without a problem. The first time the patient may wish to do this themselves. 1 or 2 ma is sufficient for treatment, but 4 is usually well tolerated. A timer beep will be heard when the treatment is completed. (If needed, you can reset the timer by turning off the unit and back on again.)
12		At this time the current will stop and you can peel off the medication electrode. Then you peel off the return electrode and the treatment is complete. I suggest you take off the medication electrode first - look for a white blanching of the skin - its the easiest way to tell if the treatment worked. If there is no blanching - touch the treatment area and ask the patient if they can feel it. It should be fully anesthetized and they should not be able to feel it. If the treatment wasn't sufficient, re-swab the area, place a new treatment electrode over the site, fill the electrode with Lidocaine, and try the treatment all over again.
13		Peel off the return electrode only when you are certain the treatment has been successful. The area under the return electrode will be the opposite of the treatment area - it will be red, rather than white. The treatment area appears white because it has been infused with Lidocaine and Epinephrine and this causes the blood to leave the area (due to constriction) and so it appears whiter than the surrounding normal skin. The return electrode appears red because more blood is in the area than the surrounding normal skin.
14		Test the treatment area for anesthesia by poking it with a sterile needle. The patient should not be able to feel it. If you are successful you will have 1-2 hours, maybe more, of anesthesia - time enough to get the doctor's office and have your pain-free needle procedure done.

Step

Click on the image to see an enlarged image
Procedure Image

There are many steps and it takes some practice...don't worry if it doesn't work the first time. Keep practicing until you know the procedure by heart.

Description of procedure

Outline or mark the area to receive the needle. This is important because the marks will serve later to show the area which has been anesthetized. If you do the NeedleBuster treatment at home first, you will need to know in advance where the needle puncture is to be made.

Swab the area with an alcohol swab: start in the middle of the marked area and swab in an expanding circular motion.

Choose a large area about 6-10 inches away from the intended treatment area to be used for the return electrode. Swab the area with an alcohol swab. Make sure you choose a large enough area to accommodate the return electrode...you will need an area about 5" in diameter.

Peel the backing off of the round return electrode and place it on the spot you choose. Do the same for the square medication electrode and place it on the marked spot where the needle stick is planned to be made.

View of electrodes ready to receive the procedure fluids.

Begin by squirting the return electrode buffer solution (salt water) into each of the 4 holes. Instill enough fluid to evenly cover the electrode pad...continue slow squirting until fluid pours out the bottom holes. You are trying to evenly fully soak the pad inside th electrode.

Now squirt the Lidocaine medication into the square medication electrode. Put a small amount into each of the 4 holes until it seeps out. You are trying to fully soak the electrode's pad.

Squeeze the black electrode clip and release it on the return snap electrode. Place the red clip on the medication electrode as shown.

Attach the plug end of the electrode wires to the NeedleBuster's top electrode sockets. It is convenient to have the patient hold the device, or place it on an adjacent table.

Be certain that the CURRENT dial is set to its lowest setting, .5ma. Next, turn on the device by depressing the ON button until the power indicator lamp lights. It is marked "PWR". If the BAT light is on, replace the battery with a fresh one. A good/strong battery is required!

Important: if the OPN indicator is on, it means you have an open connection somewhere and the treatment will not work. Play with the electrode wires and electrodes ensuring they are adequately soaked with their correct fluids. Sometimes just waiting a few minutes after its all hooked up is enough.

Do not proceed until the OPN light is extinguished because your efforts will be invain - without a closed circuit the treatment will not work because the NeedleBuster will not send out the electric current needed.

Then, turn the TIME dial to the 15 minute setting.

Finally, turn the CURRENT dial slowly. The patient will feel a tingling sensation which may be uncomfortable for some patients, especially if you 'zap' them by starting the unit on the highest setting. Ask the patient to tell you when to stop. Normally, you can go all the way up to 4 ma without a problem. The first time the patient may wish to do this themselves. 1 or 2 ma is sufficient for treatment, but 4 is usually well tolerated.

A timer beep will be heard when the treatment is completed. (If needed, you can reset the timer by turning off the unit and back on again.)

At this time the current will stop and you can peel off the medication electrode. Then you peel off the return electrode and the treatment is complete. I suggest you take off the medication electrode first - look for a white blanching of the skin - its the easiest way to tell if the treatment worked. If there is no blanching - touch the treatment area and ask the patient if they can feel it. It should be fully anesthetized and they should not be able to feel it. If the treatment wasn't sufficient, re-swab the area, place a new treatment electrode over the site, fill the electrode with Lidocaine, and try the treatment all over again.

Peel off the return electrode only when you are certain the treatment has been successful. The area under the return electrode will be the opposite of the treatment area - it will be red, rather than white.

The treatment area appears white because it has been infused with Lidocaine and Epinephrine and this causes the blood to leave the area (due to constriction) and so it appears whiter than the surrounding normal skin. The return electrode appears red because more blood is in the area than the surrounding normal skin.

Test the treatment area for anesthesia by poking it with a sterile needle. The patient should not be able to feel it. If you are successful you will have 1-2 hours, maybe more, of anesthesia - time enough to get the doctor's office and have your pain-free needle procedure done.