#HTE

Brilliant, Low-Tech Design for Pain-Free Injections

This is the best of what design has to offer: A simple, presumably inexpensive device that easily solves a problem millions of people have through brilliant mastery of materials and form.

Injecting yourself with a needle, as millions of diabetics need to do often, sucks. You have to have a steady hand to ensure the needle goes in without shearing, and you have to inject to a particular depth. And those requiring daily injections must change up their injection spots to avoid building up scar tissue. Oh yeah, and it kind of stings.

UK-based engineer, Peter Bailey’s, TickleFlex device solves all of these problems in a very clever way. Take a look at how it works:

What I found fascinating is that the pain-free part operates on the same principle as a team of pickpockets: When a thief’s accomplice bumps into you on the street, “saturating the local sensory inputs,” the thief can slide your wallet out of your back pocket knowing that you won’t feel it.

Bailey is reportedly preparing the devices for sale. They’ll come in two color-coded “flavors,” a green “Firm” model for normal skin and a blue “Soft” model for sensitive skin.