New "wonder patch" could spell the end of the hypodermic!!

Could a patch end the phobia of a jab?

By DANIEL MARTIN - More by this author » Last updated at 22:24pm on 18th September 2007 Comments

IF you dread the mere thought of a doctor's needle, it's a development you'll find reassuring.

For scientists have come up with a skin patch which can inject drugs into the body without pain.

Instead of a single jab, the patch contains dozens of tiny syringes, which inject above the skin's pain receptors, cutting out discomfort.

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Experts believe the device could be used to administer the daily insulin dose to those with diabetes or replace asthma inhalers.

In future, it could be used to give patients different drugs at different times of day.

The patch is based on inkjet printer cartridges from computer manufacturer Hewlett Packard.

Scientists discovered that the tiny nozzles used inside cartridges to spray ink on to a page could be reengineered to deliver drug doses.

Hewlett Packard spokesman Charlie Chapman said: "The device aims to provide a pain-free means of delivering medication to the human body.

"The patch will radically reduce the discomfort felt by patients when compared with traditional hypodermics."

Patches already exist to deliver painkillers, or nicotine to smokers trying to kick the habit.

These chemicals can pass through the skin on their own.

But drugs consisting of larger or water-soluble molecules need help to pierce the skin – and it has so far proved impossible to devise patches to deliver them.

The 1in sq 'smart' patch, which is bonded to the skin by an adhesive, contains 150 micro-needles.

There are also 400 cylindrical reservoirs filled with the drugs required by the patient.

A microchip regulates the amount of medicine released from the reservoirs into the needles.

Mr Chapman said: "These microneedles can selectively deliver drugs, one reservoir at a time, into the skin."

In the future, the patch could be customised for individuals, its developers believe.

Sensors could deliver insulin to a diabetes patient when low glucose levels are detected.

And those on several drugs wouldn't have to remember which drugs to take when – the microchip will do it for them.

The patches can last for days or weeks.

Manufactured by the Irish medical device provider Crospon, they could be available by 2010.