Sucking as a parasite. - "Blood can be drawn painlessly using a suction cup."
Quite a few people have a genuine phobia of needles, and this can pose a major issue when it comes to doctors taking blood samples. However, there's now some relief on the horizon. Scientists at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich) have created a new technique for obtaining blood samples.
These researchers developed their inspiration from a leech! After previously creating a suction cup to administer medicine through the mouth, they were intrigued by how these creatures sucked on their hosts. They decided to take this concept and create a system for collecting blood.
The Design: A Suction Cup with Micro-Needles
The device is based on a suction cup around 2.5 cm in size, which can be attached to the patient's back or upper arm. This cup houses micro-needles that painlessly penetrate the skin. The negative pressure generated by the suction quickly collects enough blood for most diagnostic tests. Since the micro-needles are located within the cup, the risk of injury to doctors is much lower compared to traditional needles.
"We've been studying leeches for this project. They suck on their host. We realized that we could develop a similar system to collect blood."
Cost-effective and Widely Accessible Technology
Additionally, this new device could be produced at a low cost, making it a viable option for resource-poor regions. It might even be useful to help diagnose malaria. The current prototype includes a silicone suction cup and steel micro-needles. The team is currently researching a biodegradable version. They plan to team up with a partner to produce and market the device. A collaboration with a charitable foundation could also be a possibility.
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Source: symclub.org
