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Google Proposes 'Needle-less' System For Drawing Blood (thestack.com)

Posted by samzenpus on from the no-more-poke dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Google has published a patent for a needle-free blood draw technology which could be incorporated into a wrist wearable or hand-held device. The patent filing explained that the system releases a pulse of gas into a barrel or 'hollow cylinder', containing a 'micro-particle' which can break through the skin and draw a small sample of blood. According to Google, once the drop of blood forms it is drawn up into the negative pressure barrel. This technique is a quicker and less invasive alternative to using needles, or other blood measures which administer pin pricks to the finger to release the blood. The patent, which is still pending, suggests that the mechanism could also provide a replacement for glucose testers used by diabetics.

12 of 91 comments (clear)

  1. DNA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Excellent, now when we browse the net, random websites can track us with our DNA.

    1. Re: DNA by binarylarry · · Score: 2

      Yeah but think of all the cool free shit you'll get, scro!

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      Mod me down, my New Earth Global Warmingist friends!
  2. As a diabetic by jimmybuffet · · Score: 5, Interesting

    As a diabetic I have to say this sounds pretty cool. Pricking fingers 3-4 times per day sucks. I would be happier if they found a way to restore insulin production to my pancreas, but I'll take what i can get.

    1. Re:As a diabetic by xeoron · · Score: 2

      I once saw in Popular Science back in 2002, I think, that a university had developed a tattoo that changes color so that a diabetic would know when they had a low blood sugar, therefore not needing to take blood samples all the time. It is a shame that it never became a option for people.

    2. Re: As a diabetic by squiggleslash · · Score: 2

      It's only so that Google can select more appropriate ads for you, depending on your sugar level. Do you really want ads for doughnuts when your sugar level is already high? ;-)

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
  3. Re: Still sounds like a needle to me! by binarylarry · · Score: 3, Funny

    Sounds like a hypospray to me. Didn't those fail because they hurt like a motherfucker?

    Google is a god damned search engine, not a doctor!

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    Mod me down, my New Earth Global Warmingist friends!
  4. Re:Still sounds like a needle to me! by pepty · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Still if it is a more convenient way for diabetics to get results, kudos. But if it is Google trying to compete with Theranos in the "we're going to measure 100+ different analytes from a teensy drop of blood drawn from a skin prick" market, they should probably confirm which analytes can be measured reproducibly in skin prick samples BEFORE announcing that they are measuring them. Theranos seems to be getting quite a comeuppance for not realizing that blood from a skin prick != venous blood.

  5. "Micro Particle" by ControlsGeek · · Score: 2

    My guess is the 'Micro particle' is a RFID chip with a tracking code broadcast from it.

  6. Re:Wait a minute by rastos1 · · Score: 2

    The micro-particles can be water droplets. Harmless int he bloodstream.

  7. Re: Still sounds like a needle to me! by davester666 · · Score: 2

    Those are just letters in the Alphabet...

    --
    Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
  8. Re: Still sounds like a needle to me! by KGIII · · Score: 2

    They were quite common when I was a lad. If you move, they scar. I still have one but you can't see it - it's under a tattoo. They were used, when I was enlisted, for our inoculations. I was born in 1957 but spent most of my years living on or near base as my father was a career Marine.

    --
    "So long and thanks for all the fish."
  9. Re:Air in the Blood Stream... by KGIII · · Score: 2

    As stated above. None. Not even on an infant. You need a lot more air then the movies would have you believe. You'd probably have to simultaneously use tens and thousands of these for it to be harmful. There is, literally, no measurable risk here unless you want a contrived situation where somehow someone affixes tens of thousands of these things across their body, in just the right spots, at just the right depths, and manages to fire them all at once. You'd have better luck harming yourself with a stick of butter.

    --
    "So long and thanks for all the fish."