A problem astronauts may face on a three year mission is having to perform a dental procedure or facial injury repair. Nerve blocks are a way to achieve total anesthesia but are technically challenging and require extensive training and expertise.
This device allows those with no medical training to place an intraoral nerve block. It also makes the procedure safer for those with medical training. It indexes off the teeth to locate the nerve root relative to six small holes which then serve as a needle guide for a needle/syringe.
The advantage of this device is it can be custom designed for each astronaut prior to launch and 3D printed during the mission ONLY if needed, thereby minimizing launch weight as well as increasing safety and efficacy of a technically challenging procedure.
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