Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are usually associated with their disease-spreading capabilities.
The proboscis is the mouthpart of the mosquito - which is used to pierce human skin and draw up blood (for nourishment & production of eggs)
The proboscis is made up of six needles.
The maxillae act as micro saws, they are small with serrated edges. The mandibles help by holding the skin apart. The labrum finds a blood vessel and acts like a straw to draw up blood. The hypopharynx pumps in saliva, which is how disease is spread. The labium is the outer part and protects the proboscis.
Proboscis
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Needle Prototype
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Several prototypes have been researched based on the mechanics & shape of the mosquito's proboscis. The goal is to mimic the sophisticated proboscis and create a percutaneous needle which is less painful than current ones. Often, people don't notice a mosquito bite until after it has happened!
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Many prototypes replicate the jagged surface of the maxillae (micro saws) and some incorporate vibration also.
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To learn more about the research behind prototypes like this a recent review of the research is linked here. Or you can read an article about mosquito-inspired needle research here.
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[Ma Y, et al. A review of bio-inspired needle for percutaneous interventions. Biomimetic Intelligence and Robotics. 2022;2(4):100064.]