No More Needles!

When it’s time for your annual physical it’s common to get a blood test. Anyone who’s experienced the bruising (and even scarring) of a blood draw when they can’t find a vein knows routine tests can even be downright scary. But a team of researchers recently developed a patch that could eliminate the need for traditional blood draws.

The transdermal patch is about the size of a nickel and contains many microscopic needles that can penetrate the skin surface without pain or bleeding. The sensation is somewhat like a cat’s tongue. On the skin, the needles turn into a jelly-like material, creating channels that can be used to take samples from the interstitial fluid, which provides all of the information typically contained in blood. They could also be used to deliver medication and/or vaccines, eliminating many of the risks associated with traditional needles.

Clinical trials of this revolutionary technology should be underway in the near future.