Many fear injections because of the sting. While some are painful and strong, others are quite light, but the terror is the same for those who do not like injections.
For them, this news will come in handy. We quote from ID Agency:
In order to innovate in the method of applying vaccines and reduce the percentage of diseases transmitted by the use of needles, a group of researchers from the National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics (INAOE), designed the prototype of a device that uses technology laser to shoot liquids at a high speed and pierce the skin without pain.
Dr. Rubén Ramos García, an optics specialist and research leader, explained that the device works thanks to the use of an infrared laser, whose light beam is focused on a special water-based solution to increase its temperature.
“Basically it is achieved that the liquid exceeds the boiling point and reaches 300 degrees Celsius; The phenomenon occurs so quickly that the water does not have time to boil and the so-called 'superheating' is generated, in which the solution explosively transforms into steam in approximately 20 to 50 micro seconds. In this way, a bubble is formed that expands and displaces the target liquid out of a container ”, described the specialist.
It should be noted that in order to make the fluid shoot out of the prototype, a small channel was adapted, which by reducing its diameter increases the escape velocity up to 100 meters per second. Due to the speed of the phenomenon, in order to observe the shape of the jet in detail and analyze the exit speed of the liquid expelled by the bubble, an ultra-fast camera has been used that takes between 100 thousand and half a million shots per second.
Additionally, jet penetration tests are performed with a material called agar, however, pig and human skin tests still need to be performed.
“The outer layer that protects us from the environment is called 'stratum corneum' and has various thicknesses depending on the part of the body, from 10 to 100 microns. With the 100 meters per second achieved so far, in a single shot you can penetrate up to half a millimeter, we have reached two millimeters of depth with 5 shots, which is ideal for giving vaccines, injecting insulin for people with diabetes or even doing tattoos "Said Ramos García.
According to the mathematical physicist who graduated from the National Polytechnic Institute, the prototype has a dimension of one meter on each of its sides due to its current components, but it seeks to change the laser used for a fiber laser, which has the thickness of one hair. This will achieve a more compact and easily manageable device.
Also, because the prototype works with heat and some drugs do not have to be subjected to high temperatures, they are currently working on a design in which the medicine is thermally separated from the hot liquid to avoid damage to the drug.
The research has been started for about two years, international intellectual protection is sought for it and is carried out by a multidisciplinary team of scientists from INAOE and BUAP by Dr. Juan Pablo Padilla and students Carla Berrospe, Aletvia Cuetlach and Rafael Zaca . (Agency ID)
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