A new kind of patch that dissolves into the skin could eliminate the need for syringes and more effectively deliver the immunization, according to a study released this week.
The patch, described in the journal Nature Medicine, contains tiny micro needles that dissolve into the skin. Unlike syringes, this would eliminate concerns about re-use of needles, safe disposal of sharp objects and would allow for simple self-administration of vaccines.
The research conducted at Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology, was supported by the National Institutes of Health.
The patch which contains 100 small micro needles are painlessly pressed against the skin, which then penetrate the outer layers and dissolve. It would be left on the skin for 10 minutes...
