Kids and adults alike don't have to fear trips to the doctor's office anymore. MIT researchers have improved upon existing needle free injection technology. Say goodbye to pokes and pricks, and hello to jet-injected drugs, according to a recent report on National Public Radio.
How the Injections Work
In lieu of a needle, a thin, powerful jet of liquid is forced through the skin like a laser beam. The new development has improved the aim of the stream and the diameter of the puncture.
"I think that's the big difference between this device and other devices, is the degree of precision," Ian Hunter, project leader and mechanical engineering professor explained. "We have a degree of control that hasn't been possible before."
Safe, Pain-Free Option
Nurses, phlebotomists and other needle-wielding healthcare professionals may one day be able to breathe a sign of relief. If the technology is approved for use on humans, the risk of accidental self-injections reduces significantly.
Researchers liken the pain of a needle free injection to that of a mosquito bite. People with sensitive skin, thinning skin or who have to take daily injections will appreciate this nearly painless method of receiving injections. And unlike a mosquito bite, there's no itchy welt to tend to after the injection.
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