Are allergy pens long enough? study measures thigh depth to find out

NCT ID NCT02886468

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This study looked at 107 people with severe food or insect allergies to measure the distance from skin to muscle in their thighs. The goal was to see if the needles on common epinephrine auto-injectors (like EpiPen) are long enough to deliver the medicine into the muscle, as recommended. Researchers used ultrasound to take these measurements. The findings could help improve injector design so that life-saving epinephrine reaches the right spot during an allergic emergency.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

What this could lead to
If successful, this could help manufacturers design auto-injector needles that reliably reach muscle in people with severe allergies, improving emergency treatment.
What could go wrong
This is an observational study that only measures anatomy; it does not test any treatment or patient outcomes. The results may not apply to all body types or ages.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Chr Metz Thionville

    Metz, 57085, France

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