Easy and pain-free injections: HP’s revolutionary smart patch

HP has invented a ‘smart’ patch that could become an alternative to the hypodermic needle.

The patch injects precise doses of a drug just under the surface of the skin -- with virtually no pain. Based on HP’s Inkjet technology, it squirts drugs rather than ink through ultrafine needles embedded in the patch. Because it contains a computer chip, the HP patch is ‘smart’ – it can administer one or more drugs in changing doses and times -- depending on a patient's needs.

 “This is a complete paradigm shift in drug delivery,” says Janice Nickel, researcher at HP Labs.

Nickel and her colleagues created the smart patch using technology similar to that used in the manufacture of HP’s patented process for its inkjet cartridges. It delivers drugs through the skin from tiny reservoirs within the patch.

HP has licensed the technology to Crospon -- a medical-device development company based in Galway, Ireland -- to manufacture and market the device. The smart patch could be used with a great variety of drugs and biopharmaceuticals. Depending on their use, the patches could last for days.

Medications delivered via injection are often painful for patients. Their safety and effectiveness depend on the person handling a hypodermic needle. Swallowing a pill is not necessarily the best alternative: the efficiency of drugs taken orally can be reduced by up to 95% alone because of stomach acid alone.

The skin patches currently on the market require medication be absorbed through the skin. It works for some treatments, such as the nicotine patch for smokers who want to quit. But the skin acts as a natural barrier so it is not suitable as a delivery mechanism for many drugs.

The HP patch uses microneedles that barely penetrate the skin. Each one of them can be programmed to individually administer a drug. Like an inkjet cartridge printing different colors, the smart patch can deliver multiple medications. 

“Essentially it’s a computer controlled array of painless micro hypodermic needles,” explains Janice Nickel. “What makes this system truly unique is that we use multiple, independent reservoirs. Each reservoir has its own heater and pump system.”

Crospon, which focuses on the monitoring and treatment of diabetes and gastroesophageal reflux disorder, will commercialise the patch and make it available to pharmaceutical companies across Europe and around the world.  It might be used one day, for example, to deliver insulin painlessly. The new skin patches should be on the market in two to four years, depending on the testing and approval process.

“We believe it’s an industry first to be able to deliver multiple drugs through a single patch with microneedles,” says John O’Dea, Chief Executive Officer of Crospon. “This industry-first skin patch allows Crospon to offer a superior drug delivery platform for doctors and patients.”

The deal between HP and Crospon is a good example of a technology transfer in which HP, through the IP Licensing Group, is pushing its Labs technology and research into new markets. The agreement resulted in part from HP’s relationship with Enterprise Ireland, an Irish government agency. Through Enterprise Ireland, companies can license the intellectual property of HP and access the company’s business and technology mentoring.

“We encourage companies like Crospon to apply HP’s intellectual property in innovative ways to help more people benefit from these important technologies,” notes Joe Beyers, vice president, Intellectual Property Licensing, HP. “By licensing core intellectual property in thermal inkjet technology for use in a drug delivery product, HP breathes new life into its mature technology while capitalising on the booming healthcare and life sciences market.”

Smart devices like the skin patch are just part of the future being invented at HP Labs. HP currently holds approximately 30,000 patents. By offering small companies like Cropson access to its vast R&D capabilities, HP helps them to thrive and secure more business opportunities. And, it would seem, the feeling is mutual.

“It’s been a very smooth process,” says John O’Dea. “Certainly we would strongly encourage other companies our size that might be looking to deal with a giant in the industry like HP to engage with them.”