A Leech-Inspired Device Could Lead to More Gentle Blood Sampling

While leeches might evoke discomfort, hypodermic needles often evoke even more fear. This is one motivation behind the creation of a novel blood collection device inspired by leeches, offering a less invasive method for obtaining blood samples.

In addition to the aversion to pain, many individuals, especially children, feel uneasy about the idea of needles piercing their skin. Furthermore, used hypodermic needles present a safety hazard to healthcare professionals, who may inadvertently injure themselves while handling them.

Drawing Inspiration from Sanguivorous Leeches

Given these concerns, scientists at ETH Zurich in Switzerland turned to sanguivorous leeches for inspiration.

These organisms attach themselves to a host animal’s skin using suction-cup-like mouths, puncture the skin with sharp teeth, and create negative pressure by swallowing, thereby extracting blood. Additionally, they possess a natural anticoagulant in their saliva to prevent blood clotting.

The device designed by the scientists mimics a small silicone suction cup, which is placed on the upper arm, compressed, and left to function. Unlike leeches, it features a circular array of 2-mm-long stainless steel microneedles instead of teeth.

Innovative Blood Collection Mechanism

These microneedles painlessly penetrate the skin’s top layers. Upon reverting to its original shape, the compressed cup generates negative internal pressure, extracting blood from the skin’s capillary veins. The blood is then collected in an integrated reservoir, which includes an anticoagulant to maintain the sample in a liquid state.

After the single-use device is taken off the skin, a provided lid is placed over its exposed end, sealing its contents. A unique adapter then enables its use with current laboratory systems meant for analyzing blood gathered by hypodermic needles. It’s worth mentioning that while the cup may not draw as much blood as a needle, it still collects enough for numerous tests.

Reduced Risks and Enhanced Affordability

Crucially, because the microneedles are concealed within the device, there’s minimal risk of accidental finger pricks. The technology is also touted to be more cost-effective than traditional hypodermic needles and requires less training, making it suitable for use in clinics with limited resources, particularly those in developing countries. Additionally, a fully biodegradable version is in development.

The researchers are currently seeking partners to further refine the device, which has already been successfully tested on piglets. Interestingly, this device builds upon another suction-cup apparatus developed by some of the same scientists, which facilitates the application of certain medications through the inner lining of the cheek rather than via hypodermic injection.

Read the origonal article on: New Atlas

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