Can You Inject Without the Needle?

Patients aren’t typically thrilled by the prospect of needles, and sharps can pose hazards for patients and caretakers. So, could an injectable device be developed without a needle? Andrew Coats, senior director of engineering at Portal Instruments, will be exploring the possibilities in the upcoming Pharmapack 2018 presentation, “Needle-free injectors: considerations for adopting next gen technology.” Portal has developed a needle-free injector based off jet-injector technology, which is essentially a high-speed jet of drug that is much smaller than a needle and can deliver up to 1 mL to the subcutaneous space, the company reported. Andrew Coats 1080 - Copy.jpg   Andrew Coats "The rise of biologics to treat chronic conditions and the push for home administration means more people are taking medication on a regular basis, in their home,” Coats told MD+DI. “Since the chemical structure of biologics makes them extremely susceptible to the harsh conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, subcutaneous injections via an IV or in-home injection is often the standard delivery method.” However, fear of needles can interfere with administration and ultimately patient compliance. “Needle anxiety along with needle phobia is quite prevalent and is documented to be experienced by both children and adults,” he said. 1, 2, 3 “Needle anxiety and phobia can result in a host of deleterious consequences, including vaccination non-compliance and avoidance of health...
Source: MDDI - Category: Medical Devices Authors: Tags: Medical Device Business Source Type: news