Pain-free syringes developed

Demand for painless needles is high among diabetics

Scientists have developed a tiny hypodermic syringe that can be used to give virtually pain-free injections.

The breakthrough could potentially be very good news for people with conditions such as diabetes, who require daily injections of insulin to manage their condition.

Japanese medical equipment maker Terumo Corporation has developed a prototype needle that is just 0.2 millimetres (0.008 inches) in diameter.

Many people feel almost no twinge of pain with this needle

Takako Ogawa

It uses a tapering technique to administer a flow of drugs through an extremely fine tip.

No super-thin hypodermic syringes had been developed until now for fear that they could not guarantee full, uninterrupted flow of liquid medicine.

'High demand'

Company spokeswoman Takako Ogawa said: "It depends upon the individual, but many people feel almost no twinge of pain with this needle."

"Demand for a painless needle is very high among diabetics, who are supposed to inject insulin four or five times a day,.

"We are also looking into the possibility of marketing the needle overseas."

The company hopes the needle will be commercially available for purchase within the next five or six years.

Amanda Vezey, of the charity Diabetes UK, said: "We've come a long way since people with diabetes needed to inject insulin with unwieldy glass syringes and large, painful needles.

"Although this is a few years off, Diabetes UK would welcome any safe, effective advances which make the treatment of diabetes easier and more comfortable"

Terumo's invention is thought to be the smallest conventional needle in the world.

However, a separate group of Japanese researchers has developed a microscopic alternative with a diameter of just 60 microns (60 millionths of one metre).

The device is connected to a miniature electric pump modelled on the mechanics of a mosquito bite.