HP offers shot in arm for aging inkjet technology

Since the needles barely penetrate the skin, the technology is being called "virtually painless," and a more effective way of delivering drugs than either hypodermic needles or transdermal patches now in use.

Technology similar to that which propels tiny droplets in inkjet printing might soon be used to painlessly inject medicine into the skin with a patch.

Inkjet pioneer HP (NYSE: HPQ) has created the drug delivery patches and is allowing Ireland-based medical device developer Crospon to sell them. The patches are being described by the companies as the world's first skin patch for "smart" drug delivery.

The devices have the ability to deliver one or more drugs using tiny processors and "microneedles," HP and Crospon said.

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