Gizmodo: pain

R.E.M Spring Will Remove Unwanted Hairs Lubricated By Your Tears

Sean Fallon — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:20:00 EDT

Good lord that looks painful—but the folks behind the R.E.M Spring hair removal tool claim that it can remove unwanted hair by the root without irritation.

Mmm hmm...yeah, tell me how that works out ladies. It costs $20, but if you have the guts to try this out you could probably hit up the hardware store for a cheaper solution. [Skymall via RGS]

PainShield MD Cures Your Booboos With Ultrasound

Elaine Chow — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:45:00 EDT

If you've ever been afraid that you've already popped one too many advils, but the pain still hasn't gone away, an Israeli medical company is offering a less medicated version of relief in the form of ultrasound. NanoVibronix' PainShield MD, which just received FDA clearance to be marketed in the U.S., uses therapeutic ultrasound waves to treat pain and encourage soft tissue healing.

The PainShield, which works by emitting ultrasonic waves through a disposable patch placed on the patient's skin, is one of the first pocket-sized versions of ultrasound emitters and its backers are hoping that patients will pick it up because it's portable and easy to use. Though ultrasound therapy sounds a little hippy-dippy, apparently it's been around for decades and can be highly effective for certain types of sprains and aches. No price yet, but it should be coming to doctors offices near you soon. [NanoVibronix]

Accupal Takes the Steve Martin Out of Dentistry

Mark Wilson — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:10:00 EDT

The Accupal won't make your next root canal painless, but it will lessen the sting of the needle. Essentially an ultrasonic toothbrush with a hole in it, when coupled with minor amounts of topical anesthetic, you can apparently poke and prod someone's mouth all day without pain. It seems to work through a combination of loosening/stretching the tissue (so the needle goes in easier) and slightly numbing the tissue (we assume by overloading those nerves with all the vibration). Regardless, we hope our flossing regimen pays off to the point that we never discover if this thing really works. [Accupal via Medgadget]

Pepper Spray Gel Ensures Your Attackers Eyes Get Burnt and Stay Burnt

Adam Frucci — Wed, 07 May 2008 12:50:00 EDT

Because getting maced just doesn't suck enough, there's now mace pepper spray gel. This shit will coat your face with pure, burning stickiness, turning your misinterpreted flirting into a blind search for water or anything else that'll provide relief for your painful, painful face. The benefit to the sprayer is that there's no mist, so all of the painful chemicals will end up in your assailant's eyes, nose and mouth rather than in the air around you. It "sticks to the face like glue," according to the marketing materials. Holy shit. Only $15! How can you say no?! [Product Page via Gadget Lab via Book of Joe]

Sacrowedgy: A Wedgy To Relax You

Jason Chen — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 20:20:08 EDT

This Sacrowedgy is totally different from the wedgies we received in elementary school, junior high, high school, through parts of college, that one time at grad school, and last week from Charlie—but in a good way. The Sacrowedgy helps your muscles relax and reduces back, hip and knee pain, just by lying on it.

The device goes under the sacrum to relieve and control the sciatica by " giving the piriformis muscle a chance to relax, rebalance and release the sciatic nerve". People with back pain know how painful it can be, hurting like a biatch whenever you sit up, lie down, walk, shower, poop, or do anything. If a $16 device ($192 for a batch of 6 male and 6 female units) can relieve pain, we'll be all over it. As soon as we can get up off this damn chair. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Sacrowedgy via Medgadget]

Three New Ways to Open Up a Can of Whoop-Ass

Charlie White — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 15:40:56 EST

Always looking for new ways to kill or maim people, the Defense Department has come up with a new vehicle that packs a three-way punch. Project Sheriff is now reportedly beyond the concept stage and on its way to Iraq, according to Inside Defense. In addition a variety of regular guns, it has a special package of non-lethal put-the-hurt-on-you gadgets that will be mounted on special $10.1 million military vehicles such as the one pictured here. The first thing this monster does is make tremendous noises with a Sonic Blaster that will hurt the ears of anyone nearby, hopefully scaring them away. Then, soldiers inside can break out the Laser Dazzler, searching for a telltale laser scope from snipers who might be hiding in the neighborhood. If all that racket and the laser light show doesn't work, then the ominously-named pain ray comes out to play, which is akin to a microwave that penetrates a 64th of an inch beneath the skin, causing excruciating pain. That's gotta hurt. If you're still resisting these guys at that point, well, sounds like they'll just open up a can of whoop-ass on you, filling the air with lead. I think by then, they ve figured that you're not an innocent bystander. If the army ultimately rejects this new sci-fi weapon, look for it to be rented out at S&M parties all over New York.

Pain Ray, Sonic Blaster, Laser Dazzler - All In One [DefenseTech]