Bugs Inspire Needle Alternative

Getting a shot, or getting blood taken are probably the most feared experiences when going to the doctor. A new discovery may hopefully make big hypodermic needles a thing of the past.

Indian scientists have designed a micro needle that mimics the blood sucking action of the female mosquito. This drastically smaller needle only inflicts the slightest sting (just like a mosquito bite), cutting back the painful puncture of a typical syringe. This nature inspired innovation can be used to both draw blood and inject substances into the body.

New Scientist explains:

A female mosquito sucks blood by flexing and relaxing certain muscles in its proboscis. This creates suction (or negative pressure) that draws blood into its mouthparts.

The new biocompatible microneedle, designed by Suman Chakraborty of the Indian Institute of Technology in Kharagpur and Kazuyoshi Tsuchiya of Tokai University in Kanagawa is based on the same principle.

In this case, the sucking action is provided by a microelectromechanical pump, which works using a piezoelectric actuator attached to the needle.

[via New Scientist]