Injections become needle-free thanks to laser technology and Bubble Gun
nurse times – February 6, 2022
A further step in the fight against belonephobia could be taken thanks to research conducted by a group of Dutch scientists. In fact, the fear of needles is a very common pathology. Approximately 10% of the world's population is estimated to be affected.
To counter this phenomenon, the research team is developing a new needle-free medical device, which allows the administration of drugs that were previously injected exclusively with traditional syringes.
The device was called "bubble guns” and uses laser technology to administer “virtual injections” that do not cause any kind of pain in the patient.
Since fear of needles is extremely common, this innovative route of administration could also be applied in the global vaccination campaign against Covid-19. It will also allow the reduction of the risk of contamination associated with traditional injection techniques and of infection resulting from the practices of reusing needles present in some Third World countries.
Research dedicated to laser energy-driven needleless jet injectors has increased in the last decade. In this case, the absorption of the optical energy by the liquid causes an explosively growing bubble. This bubble displaces the rest of the liquid, resulting in a rapid microfluidic jet that can penetrate the skin. This technique allows precise control of volumes (pL to µL) and penetration depths (µm to mm). Furthermore, these injections can be adjusted without changing the device, by varying parameters such as laser power, beam diameter and liquid container fill level.
“The entire administration process is faster than a mosquito bite and does not cause any pain 
since the cutaneous nerve endings are not affected”, continues the researcher.
In one millisecond, the glass capsule containing the solution to be injected is heated by the laser beam. This allows for the formation of a bubble which is then expelled at a speed of 100 km/h.
“It is precisely the high speed that allows penetration of the skin without causing any damage. No type of skin lesion has ever been found in subjects undergoing this procedure,” explains Rivas.
There testing phase on tissue samples was successfully concluded thanks to a European Union funding of 1.5 million euros. The recruitment phase of volunteers which will precede human trials has now begun.
This phase will involve the collaboration between a new startup and the pharmaceutical industry for the definition of the test and marketing phases of the "Bubble Gun" technology.
Source: https://bubble-gun.eu/
Related news: Jet injectors: Perspectives for small volume delivery with lasers
Note:
The technology for needleless methods of liquid jet injection uses microfluidic devices and thermocavitation, with relatively low laser energy and low manufacturing cost for an injection device.
The formation and collapse of bubbles is also known as cavitation. There are several ways to do this, such as with ultrasound and laser. Thermocavitation in this case uses the energy of a continuous wave laser to produce phase transitions of liquid into gas bubbles.
in Messina, for the first time, a needle-free syringe was used to administer the Anti-covid vaccine, but it was a different technology.
