HP Skin Patch May Replace Needles

Iddo Genuth writes "HP and Crospon have developed a skin patch employing microneedles that barely penetrate the skin. The microneedles can replace conventional injections and deliver drugs through the skin without causing any pain. The skin patch technology also enables delivery of several drugs by one patch and the control of dosage and of administration time for each drug. It has the potential to be safer and more efficient than injections."

Did someone say hypospray?

[garbletext]

Finally, the most important star trek technology comes to the real world! Forget all that transporter, holodeck, or warp drive crap; we've got painless injections! woo!

one more brick in the wall

[User 956]

The skin patch technology also enables delivery of several drugs by one patch and the control of dosage and of administration time for each drug.

Excellent. So when does Soma come out?

Re:In speculative fiction for a while

[ozmanjusri]

one character has a sedative-filled needle implanted on her cervix in order to incapcitate a rapist.

Wouldn't a cheese-grater be quicker?

Re:In speculative fiction for a while

[garbletext]

Ah, yes. The Vagina Dentata. Making scary Freudian dreams come to life for over 15 years!

For example: http://pbfcomics.com/?cid=PBF051-Zarflax.jpg [pbfcomics.com]

Re:In speculative fiction for a while

[somersault]

http://www.rapestop.net/ [rapestop.net] got to wonder the type of person that would leave one of those in all the time

Re:Pain?

[Thanshin]

It's a breakthrough for pussies.

No, the needles are too small to go through the fur.

Re:Consider the potential abuses

[phalse phace]

If it's anything like their inkjet cartridges, it won't be reusable (or cheap).

Beware

[OpenSourced]

The new technology is similar to the technology employed in HP's patented process for its inkjet cartridges.

I foresee scores of people walking around with the HP logo tattooed where the patch was. Later the advertising space will be sold to other companies. Attempts to sue will be stymied by the fact that the devices will come with an EULA that clearly states that your skin doesn't belong to you while using the device, and the device can leave residues there. You will be forced to accept the EULA or else die from your sickness, but HP's lawyers will insist that was you "free and informed decision".

Just wait.

Re:Pain?

[garbletext]

No, the needles are too small to go through the fur.

actually, I prefer them shaved

Re:Pain?

[rts008]

You prefer shaved cats? Man, that's kinky.
How do you get the cat to hold still?

Re:Thank god...

[muffel]

'What a pussy!' you must be thinking

Correct.

Hmmmmm

[Anonymous Coward]

Ya know, im not so sure that this is want i want. HP gets enough under my skin as it is ;)

Re:Now we need sensors in those patches

[Anonymous Coward]

And then if you see someone you don't like you just take two-three of these cardiac rhythm patches and places them on him pretty quickly and flee the scene. He'd never see it coming!

Re:Now we need sensors in those patches

[eth1]

No, the patches just need to detect when they've been put on an ambulance chasing lawyer and release cyanide instead of their normal payload.

Re:Did someone say hypospray?

[Muad'Dave]

<pedant>phlebotomist</pedant>

Is a flobotomist someone who uses Flowbees [flowbee.com] to cut hair?

Re:Wuh?

[Trent Hawkins]

this might be a by product of their printer technology. Just think about it, a low level technician was working one night on an ink injector and notices "hey! I just injected my self with half a gallon of ink and didn't even notice it!". He quickly dies and his manager then presents the idea to re-design their new ink injectors in to drug injectors and makes a cool million on it.