News Health & Medicine

A squid-inspired medical device could reduce the need for needles

Tiny encapsulated microjets allow doctors to deliver drugs into various internal organs

A colorful Bigfin Reef Squid hovers in very dark water

Inspired by the mechanism squids use to propel liquid through their siphons, a new needle-free device for delivering drugs can precisely direct liquid toward specific organs in the body.

Sirachai Arunrugstichai/Moment/Getty Images Plus

By Nora Bradford

If you’re one of the many adults who hate needles, you may be in luck. Scientists have taken inspiration from squids’ high-pressure liquid jets and developed a needle-free device to inject drugs into organs deep within the body.