An insulin injector is a device for administering insulin without the use of needles. Such a device can be a godsend for those who are afraid of injections or seek maximum pain relief during insulin therapy.

Device by appearance very similar to an insulin pen, it is capable of injecting the insulin hormone in a small dose under the skin by creating a certain pressure. Thus, the medicine is introduced into the body through a jet that has an increased speed.

The first compact injector for administering insulin was produced in 2000 by Equidyne, it was called Injex 30. Since then, many US residents began to use the devices on an ongoing basis, and today such devices can be found on sale on the shelves of specialized medical stores.

Medi-Jector Vision Injector
This is one of the first devices that gained wide popularity among diabetics, from Antares Pharma. There is a spring inside the device that helps push insulin through a tiny hole at the end of a needle-free syringe pen.

The kit includes a disposable cartridge, which is enough to administer the medicine for two weeks or 21 injections. According to the manufacturers, the injector is durable and can serve flawlessly for two years.

• This is the seventh improved version of the device.
• The first model had all kinds of metal parts and was quite heavy, which caused inconvenience to users.
• Medi-Jector Vision is different in that almost all of its parts are made of plastic.
• Three types of attachments are offered for the patient, so you can choose sterility and the depth of penetration of the hormone into the body.

The price of the device is $673.

InsuJet injector

This is a similar device that has a similar principle of operation. The injector has a convenient body, an adapter for injecting medicine, and an adapter for supplying insulin from a 3 or 10 ml bottle.

The weight of the device is 140 g, length – 16 cm, dosage increment – ​​1 unit, jet weight – 0.15 mm. The patient can administer the required dosage in the amount of 4-40 units, depending on the body's needs. The drug is administered within three seconds, and the injector can be used to inject any type of hormone. The price of such a device reaches $275.

Injector Novo Pen 4

Sugar level

This is a modern model of insulin injector from Novo Nordisk, which is a continuation of the well-known and beloved Novo Pen 3 model. The device has a stylish design, a solid metal case, ensuring high strength and reliability.

Thanks to the new improved mechanics, three times less pressure is required during hormone injection than the previous model. The dosage indicator is distinguished by large numbers, due to which patients with poor vision can use the device.

The advantages of the device include the following characteristics:

1. The dosage scale has been increased three times compared to previous models.
2. When insulin is fully injected, you can hear a confirmation click.
3. Pressing the start button does not require much effort, so the device can also be used by children.
4. If the dosage was dialed by mistake, you can change the indicator without losing insulin.
5. The administered dosage can be 1-60 units, so this device can be used by different people.
6. The device has a large, easy-to-read dosage scale, so the injector is also suitable for older people.
7. The device is compact in size and light weight, so it fits easily into a purse, is convenient to carry and allows you to administer insulin in any convenient place.

During operation, you can only use compatible disposable NovoFine needles and Penfill insulin cartridges with a capacity of 3 ml.

The standard insulin auto-injector with a replaceable cartridge Novo Pen 4 is not recommended for use by blind people without assistance. If a diabetic uses several types of insulin for treatment, each hormone should be placed in a separate injector. For convenience, so as not to confuse medications, the manufacturer provides several colors for the devices.

It is recommended to always have an additional device and cartridge in case the injector is lost or fails. To maintain sterility and reduce the risk of infection, each patient should have individual cartridges and disposable needles. Consumables should be stored in a remote place, away from children.

After administering the hormone, it is important not to forget to remove the needle and put on the protective cap. Do not allow the device to fall or hit a hard surface, fall under water, become dirty or dusty.

When the cartridge is in the Novo Pen 4 device, it must be stored at room temperature in a specially designed case.

How to use the Novo Pen 4 injector

• Before use, you must remove the protective cap and unscrew the mechanical part of the device from the cartridge retainer.
• The piston rod must be inside the mechanical part; to do this, press the piston head all the way. When the cartridge is removed, the rod can move even if the head has not been depressed.
• It is important to check the new cartridge for damage and make sure it is filled with the correct insulin. Different cartridges have color-coded caps and color-coded labels.
• The cartridge is installed in the base of the holder, directing the cap with color markings forward.
• The holder and the mechanical part of the injector are screwed to each other until a signal click appears. If the insulin in the cartridge becomes cloudy, mix it thoroughly.
• The disposable needle is removed from the packaging and the protective sticker is removed from it. The needle is screwed tightly onto the color-coded cap.
• The protective cap is removed from the needle and set aside. In the future, it will be used to safely remove and dispose of the used needle.
• Next, the additional inner cap is removed from the needle and disposed of. If an insulin drop appears at the end of the needle, there is no need to worry, this is a normal process.

Injector Novo Pen Echo

This device is the first injector with a memory function that can use the minimum dosage in 0.5 unit increments. This is especially important when treating children who require a reduced dose of ultra-rapid insulin. The maximum dosage is 30 units.

The device has a display that shows the last dose of hormone administered and the time in the form of schematic divisions. The device also retains all the positive characteristics of the Novo Pen 4 device. The injector can be used with disposable NovoFine needles.

Thus, the advantages of the device include the following features:

1. Availability of built-in memory;
2. Easy and simple recognition of values ​​in the memory function;
3. The dosage is easy to set and adjust;
4. The injector has a convenient wide screen with large symbols;
5. A special click indicates the complete administration of the required dosage;
6. The start button is easy to press.

Manufacturers note that in Russia you can buy this device only in blue. Other colors and stickers are not supplied to the country.

The rules for insulin injections are provided in the video in this article.

In 1922, the first insulin injection was given. Until this time, people with diabetes were doomed. Initially, diabetics were forced to inject pancreatic hormone with glass reusable syringes; it was inconvenient and painful. Over time, disposable insulin syringes with thin needles appeared on the market. Nowadays more convenient devices for administering insulin are sold - syringe pens. These devices help diabetics lead an active lifestyle and not experience difficulties with subcutaneous administration of medication.

A syringe pen is a special device (injector) for subcutaneous administration of medications, most often insulin. In 1981, the director of the Novo company (now Novo Nordisk), Sonnik Frewland, had the idea of ​​​​creating this device. By the end of 1982, the first samples of devices for convenient insulin administration were ready. In 1985, NovoPen first appeared on the market.

Insulin injectors are:

1. Reusable (with replaceable cartridges);
2. Disposable - the cartridge is soldered in, the device is thrown away after use.

Popular disposable syringe pens are Solostar, FlexPen, Quickpen.

Reusable devices consist of:

• cartridge holder;
• mechanical part (start button, dose indicator, piston rod);
• injector cap;
• Replacement needles are purchased separately.

Benefits of use

Syringe pens are popular among diabetics and have a number of advantages:

• exact dosage of the hormone (there are devices in increments of 0.1 units);
• ease of transportation - easily fits in a pocket or bag;
• the injection is carried out quickly and unnoticeably;
• Both a child and a blind person can give an injection without any assistance;
• the ability to select needles of different lengths - 4, 6 and 8 mm;
• stylish design allows you to administer insulin to a diabetic in a public place without attracting much attention from other people;
• modern syringe pens display information about the date, time and dosage of insulin administered;
• warranty from 2 to 5 years (it all depends on the manufacturer and model).

Disadvantages of the injector

Any device is not ideal and has its drawbacks, namely:

• not all insulins are suitable for a certain device model;
• high cost;
• if something is broken, it cannot be repaired;
• You need to buy two syringe pens at once (for short-acting and long-acting insulin).

It also happens that medicine is prescribed in bottles, but only cartridges are suitable for syringe pens! Diabetics have found a way out of this unpleasant situation. They pump insulin from a bottle with a sterile syringe into a used empty cartridge.

Review of models with prices

Video review of insulin pens:

Choosing the right syringe pen and needles

To choose the right injector, you need to pay attention to:

• maximum single dosage and step;
• weight and size of the device;
• compatibility with your insulins;
• price.

For children, it is better to take injectors in increments of 0.5 units. For adults, the maximum single dosage and ease of use are important.

The service life of insulin pens is 2-5 years, it all depends on the model. To prolong the performance of the device, it is necessary to adhere to certain rules:

• store in the original case;
• Avoid exposure to moisture and direct sunlight;
• do not expose to shock.

According to all rules, needles must be changed after each injection. Not everyone can afford this, so some diabetics use 1 needle per day (3-4 injections), while others can use one needle for 6-7 days. Over time, the needles become dull and painful sensations appear when injected.

There are three types of injection needles:

1. 4-5 mm – for children.
2. 6 mm – for teenagers and thin people.
3. 8 mm – for obese people.

Popular manufacturers - Novofine, Microfine. The price depends on the size; a package usually contains 100 needles. Also on sale you can find lesser-known manufacturers of universal needles for syringe pens - Comfort Point, Droplet, Akti-Fine, KD-Penofine.

Instructions for use

Algorithm for the first injection:

1. Take the syringe pen out of the case and remove the cap. Unscrew the mechanical part from the cartridge holder.
2. Fix the piston rod in starting position(press the piston head with your finger).
3. Insert the cartridge into the holder and attach it to the mechanical part.
4. Attach the needle and remove the outer cap.
5. Shake insulin (only if NPH).
6. Check the patency of the needle (bleed 4 units - if the cartridge is new and 1 unit before each use.
7. Set the required dosage (shown in numbers in a special window).
8. We gather the skin into a fold, make an injection at an angle of 90 degrees and press the start button all the way.
9. We wait 6-8 seconds and pull out the needle.

Video instructions for using a syringe pen:

In the fight, the patient must have his own weapon - a sword with which he will fight the insidious disease, a shield with which he will reflect blows and a life-giving vessel that replenishes energy and gives him vitality.

No matter how pretentious it may sound, there is such a universal tool - an insulin injector. It should be at hand at any moment and you need to be able to use it.

What is an insulin injector?

An insulin injector is a needle or needle-free personal medical device. The length of the needle in needle structures is no more than 8 mm.

It is intended for introduction. Its undeniable advantage is the absence of pain and the reduction of fear from upcoming insulin therapy in the form of an injection, especially for children.

The introduction (injection) of the medicine occurs not due to the piston device characteristic of syringes, but due to the creation of the maximum required pressure by a spring mechanism. This significantly reduces the time required to complete the procedure.

Standard injector device

In a word, the patient, as well as the child, not only does not have time to get scared, but does not even really understand what happened.

The aesthetic and constructive design of the injector is quite impressive and resembles something intermediate between a piston writing pen and a marker.

For children, cheerful colors and various stickers are used, which does not frighten the child at all and turns the procedure into a simple game of “hospital”.

The constructive simplicity amazes with its genius. There is a button on one side, and a needle pops out from the other end (if it is a needle type). Insulin is injected under pressure through its internal channel.

Inside the case there is a replaceable cartridge (container) with a medicinal solution. Capsule volumes vary - from 3 to 10 ml. There are adapters for switching from one container to another.

Without “refueling,” an injection auto-injector can work for several days. This is very convenient when you are away from home for a long time.

What is very important is that the cartridge always contains the same insulin dose.

By rotating the dispenser in the tail of the syringe, the patient independently sets the required volume for the injection.

All insulin injectors are extremely easy to use.

The procedure is divided into one, two or three stages:

1. Cocking the spring mechanism for dosing the medicine.
2. Application to the injection site.
3. Pressing the button that straightens the spring. The medicine is instantly introduced into the body.

The bodies of all injectors are made of durable and lightweight materials, virtually eliminating accidental damage. Which is extremely convenient on hikes, walks and long business trips.

Model overview

Structurally, insulin gadgets are similar to each other, however, some engineering “highlights” speak of individual superiority and advantages over each other. This makes it possible to take into account the age and clinical characteristics of patients, as well as to select the most preferable device for them.

This model of insulin injector was developed in the Netherlands and is intended for people suffering from trypanophobia (fear of injections and needles).

Moreover, they mistake the injector for an interesting new toy.

The absence of a needle significantly increases the safety of the device for the child, even if you do not accidentally remove it from the baby.

InsuJet is “tailored” for U100 insulin and is suitable for all types.

What is the needle-free injection principle used in InsuJet based on?

The medication is administered by creating high pressure in the device nozzle at the point of contact with the skin. The pressure is generated by a spring pressing on the piston at the moment of instant expansion. This engineering know-how provides lightning-fast, painless injection of insulin under the patient’s skin. All that a diabetic will feel is only the pressure of a powerful, but extremely thin stream.

Operating principle of InsuJet in the video:

The standard package includes:

1. Puller for removing the nozzle cap.
2. Nozzle with piston.
3. Two adapters for 10 and 3 ml bottles.

Clinical and operational advantages of the device:

1. Insulin injection is effective way delivery of medication, facilitating its rapid absorption.
2. To increase security when administering (using) the device, a unique security mechanism is used. It ensures that the contact area between the nozzle and the body is not disturbed. Otherwise, if there is no tight pressure, the injector simply will not work.

Video instructions for using the auto-injector:

NovoPen 4

The NovoPen insulin injector of the fourth modification is adapted for everyday use by patients with diabetes.

When developing this model, all comments and wishes of users were taken into account. previous versions injectors of the NovoPen line.

Three characteristic improvements significantly improved the device:

1. Improved screen that visualizes the prescribed dose.
2. The ability to adjust the intermediate dose without loss of insulin has been implemented.
3. An audible signal (click) has been introduced to indicate the end of the hormone administration, after which the needle can be removed.

However, the compatibility of cartridges and needles used for injections should be taken into account.

1. Ryzodeg. This is a harmonious combination of long- and short-acting insulins. It is applied once a day and its effect is felt for more than 24 hours.
2. . Short-acting human insulin. The injection is given in the abdomen before eating. Its use is not prohibited for breastfeeding mothers and even pregnant women.
3. . This drug with an average temporary effect is recommended for use by pregnant women.
4. . Refers to ultra-long-acting hormones. The effect lasts more than 42 hours.
5. . Recommended for children over six years of age. Long-acting (long-acting) insulin.

In addition to them, the device works reliably with other insulins: Ultratard, Ultralente, Ultralente MS, Mixtard 30 NM, Monotard MS and Monotard NM.

There are some peculiarities in using the NovoPen 4 gadget, however, they are typical for all analogues of such devices:

1. When refilling the injector, you must ensure that the flask with the hormone is intact.
2. For subsequent injections, you must use only a new sterile needle, screwing it to the free edge. After manipulation, it is necessary to remove the protective caps. The top one must be saved for disposal.
3. To ensure uniformity of the composition, shake it up to 15 times before use.
4. After the injection, do not remove the needle until a characteristic click appears.
5. After completing the procedure, close the needle and unscrew it for disposal.
6. Keep the injector in a safe place.

With all the obvious advantages, the NovoPen 4 device has a number of disadvantages that are worth mentioning:

1. Relatively high price.
2. Impossibility of repairs.
3. A categorical requirement for the use of insulin is only from Novo Nordis.
4. There is no graduation of 0.5 tenth units, which precludes the use of the device for small children.
5. Cases of solution leakage from the device have been recorded.
6. When used simultaneously different types insulin requires several injectors, which is quite expensive financially.
7. Mastering the injector is difficult for some categories of patients.

Video instructions for use:

Syringe pen NovoPen Echo is newest sample insulin administration systems developed by the Danish company Novo Nordisk, one of the Western European leaders in the field of pharmaceutical products.

These models are fully adapted for children. This is achieved design features dispenser, which allows you to grade the medicine from 0.5 to 30 units of insulin, in increments of 0.5 units.

The presence of a memory display allows you not to forget the dose and time that has passed since the “last” injection.

The versatility of the auto-injector lies in the ability to use different types of insulin, such as:

• Novorapid;
• Levemir;
• Protafan;
• Mixtard;
• Actrapid.

Individual benefits:

1. Memory function. This is the first device of this type developed by the company, which allows you to control the time and dose of manipulation. One division corresponds to one hour.
2. Wide range of dose selection options – a range of up to 30 units with a minimum step of 0.5 units.
3. Availability of the “Security” function. It does not allow you to exceed the prescribed dose of insulin.
4. You can emphasize and diversify the individuality of your gadget with a whole set of exclusive stickers.

In addition, the injector has undeniable advantages, capable of additionally connecting some sensory receptors:

1. Hear. A click will confirm that the specified dose of insulin has been administered completely.
2. See. The size of the monitor numbers is increased 3 times, which eliminates the possibility of errors when choosing a dose.
3. Feel. To operate the device, you will need to apply 50% less effort compared to previous models.

For proper operation device, you must use only the recommended consumables:

1. Insulin cartridges Penfill 3 ml.
2. Disposable NovoFine or NovoTwist needles, up to 8 mm long.

Recommendations and warnings:

1. Without the help of third parties, the NovoPen Echo injector is not recommended for individual use by the blind or patients with impaired vision.
2. When prescribing two or more types of insulin at the same time, have several devices of similar action with you.
3. In case of accidental damage to the capsule, always have a spare cartridge with you.

Video instructions for using NovoPen Echo:

If, for certain reasons, you no longer “trust” the display, or have lost or forgotten the settings, begin subsequent injections by measuring glucose levels in order to correctly prescribe the dose.