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Painless Microneedle Patch Could Replace Needles

posted by Fnord666 on Tuesday December 13 2016, @04:37AM   Printer-friendly
from the just-don't-needle-me-about-it dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

It's only a matter of time before drugs are administered via patches with painless microneedles instead of unpleasant injections. But designers need to balance the need for flexible, comfortable-to-wear material with effective microneedle penetration of the skin. Swedish researchers say they may have cracked the problem.

In the recent volume of PLOS ONE, a research team from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm reports a successful test of its microneedle patch, which combines stainless steel needles embedded in a soft polymer base – the first such combination believed to be scientifically studied. The soft material makes it comfortable to wear, while the stiff needles ensure reliable skin penetration.

Unlike epidermal patches, microneedles penetrate the upper layer of the skin, just enough to avoid touching the nerves. This enables delivery of drugs, extraction of physiological signals for fitness monitoring devices, extracting body fluids for real-time monitoring of glucose, pH level and other diagnostic markers, as well as skin treatments in cosmetics and bioelectric treatments.

Publication: DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166330

Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 1) by Scruffy Beard 2 on Tuesday December 13 2016, @05:24AM

    by Scruffy Beard 2 (6030) on Tuesday December 13 2016, @05:24AM (#440675)

    I think some of the pain from some shots is the sheer volume a fluid injected.

  • (Score: 3, Funny) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday December 14 2016, @12:17AM

    by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday December 14 2016, @12:17AM (#441097) Journal

    I do believe that you are right. People who have gone through boot camp will never forget the "A shot". I can't remember what it was for, but we dropped our pants, and got stuck in the buttock. Shot was recieved early in the morning, then we did extensive calisthenics all day long, late into the evening. We were told quite bluntly that if you sat down and failed to exercise, that shot would all but cripple you for a week. Despite all the preventive measures, it was still hard as hell to get on your feet the next morning.

    Don't quote me, but I think the shot contained a gallon and a half of genuine Navy Bull Shit.