Eli Lilly offering up undercover insulin pen to US
There's already a bevy of devices out there designed to keep track and manage one's diabetes and glucose levels, but Eli Lilly's innocuous pen-like injector looks to make the process of taking insulin a bit less invasive. The Huma-Pen Memoir resembles your average ink pen and shouldn't look too out of place holding it down in your tee's front pocket, but whenever you need a shot of insulin, it conveniently turns into an injector thanks to the hidden hypodermic needle encased within. The device also "allows the user to dial the amount of insulin they need to take," and keeps the dosage, date, and time of the previous 16 shots in order to keep diabetics from overdosing. Users should be able to utilize the same pen for "around three years," and after a needle is used, another is inserted and ready to go at the owners request. A few lucky participants have already received their pen here in the US, and while this nifty invention has been available across Europe for some time now, it will officially hit American retail shelves next week for around $45.[Via MedGadget]
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
PJK @ Feb 7th 2007 7:42AM
You could also use it to discreetly inject people with polonium isotope .... just an idea....
Blackster @ Feb 7th 2007 7:59AM
yeah discreetly. "sorry my pen's stuck in youre neck!"
those pen-injection-systems are a big step forward and it looks less suspicious to set up another shot of insulin to bystanders ;)
Heroshima @ Feb 7th 2007 8:25AM
i know as a type2 that i have to take 2-3 a day, sometimes at work i have to and well people look and stare, WOW a drug user!! heheh I wish.. this is a big step for personal space.. Ive been using a pen like thsi but not a nice for another insulin replacement drug and its really handy to dial in and push.
Ronk @ Feb 7th 2007 8:54AM
a little adjustment and ....
the Heropen. Perfect to help stop intravenous drug users ODing
Gil @ Feb 7th 2007 9:03AM
The man who knew too little
TAJ @ Feb 7th 2007 10:39AM
Just don't get your pens mixed up!
Mike @ Feb 7th 2007 11:31AM
My wife's a type I diabetic for the last 30 years. She uses an insulin pump. Much better solution than this pen. She gets a steady stream of insulin based which can be adjusted, plus can push a couple of buttons for a boost during meals. With this device, she has pretty much the same blood sugars as I do, and the ability to eat what she wants when she wants. The only time she needs a needle is when her pump runs out and she's not at home, which happens twice a year.
Advancements in pump technology blow this away in terms of increasing the quality of life of insulin-dependent diabetics. This is a sideways step in my opinion. May be of interest to IV drug users, to embarassed to break out their works on the train.
Jay Nielson @ Feb 7th 2007 12:33PM
I'm a type 1 diabetic and I use a similar "pen device" from Novo Nordisk. However, my pen doesn't look nearly as nice as this one. I'm not interested in this thought as I'm switching to a pump in the next month...way better.
Trent @ Feb 7th 2007 4:23PM
The TSA guys at the airport and going to anal probe you when they find this device on you or in your luggage.
That is all.
Jehan @ Feb 7th 2007 4:50PM
The insulin pump is fine, but it doesn't work for everyone. My sister was on the pump, and siwtched off because it just made her numbers go out of control. She's currently using the Noro pen, but when I showed her this her exact reaction was "NEAT! Get me that for Valentines day?"