Alleviating Needlestick Anxiety
(2021-2022)
Needlestick anxiety is defined as the anxiety and fear people experience when they are receiving injections. A wide range of people of different ages and demographics report that they fear vaccines, allergy tests, blood draws, and any other procedures that involve needles. The worst case of this fear is prevention of individuals from voluntarily getting vaccinated, tested for allergies, or undergoing any needle-related procedures. In the best case, an individual grows to accept needle procedures after understanding the importance of them.
The most common origins of this anxiety are either from discussions with relatives and friends or from the natural intimidation of needles. There are a range of existing methods that exist to alleviate the pain from local skin surface devices to distraction methods. Simpler methods include conversing, averting concentration gaze, or offering an incentive. Our team’s goal is to create a more consistent pain reducing device that improves the experience of pediatric patients from needlestick procedures. We have brainstormed and prototyped a device that deploys vibrations to take advantage of what we know about gate control theory. By reducing the perceived pain of venipunctures, we hope to decrease needlestick anxiety. Towards the end of May, our goal is to have a more complete prototype that deploys more than one function that qualifies for a patent.
The most common origins of this anxiety are either from discussions with relatives and friends or from the natural intimidation of needles. There are a range of existing methods that exist to alleviate the pain from local skin surface devices to distraction methods. Simpler methods include conversing, averting concentration gaze, or offering an incentive. Our team’s goal is to create a more consistent pain reducing device that improves the experience of pediatric patients from needlestick procedures. We have brainstormed and prototyped a device that deploys vibrations to take advantage of what we know about gate control theory. By reducing the perceived pain of venipunctures, we hope to decrease needlestick anxiety. Towards the end of May, our goal is to have a more complete prototype that deploys more than one function that qualifies for a patent.
Team Member Bios
Christopher Kamadinata is a senior undergraduate who transferred from Montgomery College. He is studying Biomedical Engineering and enjoys collaborating with others through activities like MEDesign, Medlife, or Makeathon to serve communities and learn new things. When he is relatively free he enjoys drawing, playing mobile games, or practicing percussion.
Vivian Li is a junior undergraduate at USC studying Biomedical Engineering with the Molecular Cellular emphasis. On campus she’s involved with Medlife and CHIP. In her free time, Vivian enjoys reading, baking, and traveling. She’s also doing research in the living system engineering lab at USC. Her dream is to become a doctor that combines engineering with medicine.
Michelle Arredondo is a junior undergraduate at USC studying Biomedical Engineering with an Electrical Emphasis. She is interested in pursuing a career in neuroprosthetics or biomechanics. In her free-time, Michelle enjoys playing piano and guitar.
Jonathan You is a sophomore undergraduate student majoring in Neuroscience with a pre-med emphasis and minoring in Connected Devices and Making. He is interested in pursuing a career in medicine and biomedical engineering. In his free time, he likes working out, playing piano, and photographing.
Hayley LaBonte is a sophomore undergraduate student at USC studying Biomedical Engineering with a Mechanical Emphasis. She is interested in pursuing a career in prosthetics or cardiovascular devices, and hopes to become an Intellectual Property attorney. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, hiking, and going to the beach.
Vivian Li is a junior undergraduate at USC studying Biomedical Engineering with the Molecular Cellular emphasis. On campus she’s involved with Medlife and CHIP. In her free time, Vivian enjoys reading, baking, and traveling. She’s also doing research in the living system engineering lab at USC. Her dream is to become a doctor that combines engineering with medicine.
Michelle Arredondo is a junior undergraduate at USC studying Biomedical Engineering with an Electrical Emphasis. She is interested in pursuing a career in neuroprosthetics or biomechanics. In her free-time, Michelle enjoys playing piano and guitar.
Jonathan You is a sophomore undergraduate student majoring in Neuroscience with a pre-med emphasis and minoring in Connected Devices and Making. He is interested in pursuing a career in medicine and biomedical engineering. In his free time, he likes working out, playing piano, and photographing.
Hayley LaBonte is a sophomore undergraduate student at USC studying Biomedical Engineering with a Mechanical Emphasis. She is interested in pursuing a career in prosthetics or cardiovascular devices, and hopes to become an Intellectual Property attorney. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, hiking, and going to the beach.