Does the sight of a gleaming hypodermic needle make you shiver in fear?

If so, we've got good news. A pain-free alternative is on the way: The micro-needle drug patch.

These new patches contain hundreds of miniature needles that distribute small amounts of a drug at predetermined intervals. Unlike the nicotine patches already available for cigarette addicts, these patches are able to break the skin barrier and pump the drugs directly into the blood. But because the needles are so small, they don't trigger any nerve endings within the body, so you won't feel any pain when the injections occur.

This innovative technology isn't quite as new as you might think – just look at your inkjet printer, and you'll see the same effect at work. Such printers work by shooting out small amounts of specific colors at predetermined times. Janice Nickel, one of the head scientists at HP Labs, realized that the same procedure could be effective in creating a substitute for hypodermic needles – so she took a break from the world of printers to create the prototype for the micro-needle patch.

The new patch could be the perfect tool for diabetics: Instead of carrying around a supply of hypodermic needles, they can simply slap on a patch that will inject insulin at regular intervals. Nickel believes that the patch could also be adapted to treat patients who have asthma attacks, and it could even have potential uses for soldiers during military operations, in which "you could put sensors on the device to detect chemical or biological weapons, and develop the appropriate antidote for the pathogen dependent on what was detected by the sensors," she told ABC News.

If you've been putting off a trip to Africa because you didn't want to deal with all those pre-flight vaccination shots, it may be time to pack your bags and make sure your passport is up to date. Once doctors' offices are stocked with these new patches, the needle is bound to feel a whole lot nicer.

Learn more. (ABC News)


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