10000596Revolutionising the multi-billion pound tattoo industry with low pain, low trauma high efficiency ultrasonicsClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKThis project aims to deliver a revolutionary new, low pain, low trauma tattooing system for the \>$2bn global tattooing market. It builds on a highly successful previous IUK grant which demonstrated proof of concept of ultrasonic low pain tattooing. The innovation is highly novel. There are no other tattoo machine based approaches to reducing pain and skin trauma. Some skin creams have been used, but are problematic for several reasons, particularly in the short term effectiveness, the potential for compromising the quality of the tattoo work and that the artist cannot 'prescribe' such materials. The benefits of low pain tattooing are an improved experience for the client, longer sitting times and therefore great efficiency for the artist and less unwanted movement (jerk response) in relation to pain. The device also offers low skin trauma. This effect allows for higher quality work as there is much less redness in the tattoo field. These effects are achieved through the ultrasonic motion of a needle - 1000ths of a mm and thousands of times per second, acting as a microscopic hammer action needle, parting the skin, lowering in skin friction and triggering fewer pain receptors. The key objectives are to optimise the performance of the ultrasonic low pain tattoo device, called TranQuill(r), to address the shortcomings of the prototype device in terms of: - vibration: which may result in vibration-related long term injury to the user. - optimisation of ultrasonic frequency and more importantly, amplitude. Too much vibration leads to undesirable results and too little will not have the beneficial effects of low pain tattooing demonstrated in the proof of concept phase. Industrial design to allow for a premium product with very high desirability. Collaborations with artists, established in the prototype phase, will be built upon to ensure a world leading product is produced in a market-ready state.