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| Patch promises painless injection | Patch promises painless injection |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Technology from inkjet printer cartridges could be used to inject medicines painlessly through the skin from a patch on the arm. | Technology from inkjet printer cartridges could be used to inject medicines painlessly through the skin from a patch on the arm. |
| The device uses a system patented by HP to push drugs through tiny needles, which do not go far enough under the skin to trigger pain receptors. | The device uses a system patented by HP to push drugs through tiny needles, which do not go far enough under the skin to trigger pain receptors. |
| It could potentially deliver many drugs currently injected or taken daily. | It could potentially deliver many drugs currently injected or taken daily. |
| However, one expert said proof was needed that people using them will not be more vulnerable to infections. | However, one expert said proof was needed that people using them will not be more vulnerable to infections. |
| HP has licensed Irish biotechnology firm Crospon to develop the "microneedle" patch for human use. | HP has licensed Irish biotechnology firm Crospon to develop the "microneedle" patch for human use. |
| It said that it would probably take three years for it to be available to patients. | It said that it would probably take three years for it to be available to patients. |
| At present, only substances which can be absorbed directly through the skin, such as nicotine, can be delivered using a patch. | At present, only substances which can be absorbed directly through the skin, such as nicotine, can be delivered using a patch. |
| The majority of drugs, which contain bigger molecules, can't do this, and must be pushed past the top skin layer using a needle. | The majority of drugs, which contain bigger molecules, can't do this, and must be pushed past the top skin layer using a needle. |
| Tough layer | Tough layer |
| The top layer of skin, called the stratum corneum, is the body's barrier against infection. | The top layer of skin, called the stratum corneum, is the body's barrier against infection. |
| This is only a fraction of a millimetre thick, but conventional needles pass far beyond this into a layer called the dermis, which contains nerves which send a pain message when disturbed. | This is only a fraction of a millimetre thick, but conventional needles pass far beyond this into a layer called the dermis, which contains nerves which send a pain message when disturbed. |
| The manufacturers would have to demonstrate that making lots of small holes in the skin wasn't letting bacteria and viruses in Professor Brian Barry, University of Bradford | |
| These receptors are found approximately three-quarters of a millimetre under the skin surface, but the microneedles should only reach approximately half a millimetre at most, passing the stratum corneum without hitting the dermis. | These receptors are found approximately three-quarters of a millimetre under the skin surface, but the microneedles should only reach approximately half a millimetre at most, passing the stratum corneum without hitting the dermis. |
| There are 150 microneedles in a patch, and HP says that the dose and even the time of day a drug was injected could be controlled using a microchip. | There are 150 microneedles in a patch, and HP says that the dose and even the time of day a drug was injected could be controlled using a microchip. |
| John O'Dea, Crospon's Managing Director, said that another benefit of the HP-developed patch was its ability to carry more than one drug at the same time. | John O'Dea, Crospon's Managing Director, said that another benefit of the HP-developed patch was its ability to carry more than one drug at the same time. |
| "We think we can deliver both insulin, and glycogen - which counteracts the effects of insulin - which would be of great benefit to diabetics, as one of the greatest risk they face is an overdose of insulin," he said. | "We think we can deliver both insulin, and glycogen - which counteracts the effects of insulin - which would be of great benefit to diabetics, as one of the greatest risk they face is an overdose of insulin," he said. |
| Infection worry | Infection worry |
| Professor Brian Barry, from the University of Bradford, is a leading researcher into new methods of delivering drugs through the skin. | Professor Brian Barry, from the University of Bradford, is a leading researcher into new methods of delivering drugs through the skin. |
| He said that having a microneedle patch applied to your skin would feel like being "licked by a cat", but not painful. | He said that having a microneedle patch applied to your skin would feel like being "licked by a cat", but not painful. |
| However, he said that anyone developing this technology would have to overcome several hurdles before it was ready for patients. | However, he said that anyone developing this technology would have to overcome several hurdles before it was ready for patients. |
| He said: "The stratum corneum is the layer of skin that keeps your insides in, and the outside world out, and it's perfectly designed for this. | He said: "The stratum corneum is the layer of skin that keeps your insides in, and the outside world out, and it's perfectly designed for this. |
| "The manufacturers would have to demonstrate that making lots of small holes in the skin wasn't letting bacteria and viruses in and causing infection. | "The manufacturers would have to demonstrate that making lots of small holes in the skin wasn't letting bacteria and viruses in and causing infection. |
| "Certainly there is a lot of potential for microneedles, but you also wonder whether it will end up costing too much to deliver a drug which costs pennies." | "Certainly there is a lot of potential for microneedles, but you also wonder whether it will end up costing too much to deliver a drug which costs pennies." |