New needle technique could make tattoos painless and fast

New needle technique could make tattoos painless and quick to represent images

ReprTattoos is like a story about the body

Some people choose not to get a tattoo because they feel uncomfortable throughout the procedure. However, a technological innovation being developed by a team of scientists could change that by using tiny needles.

Under the direction of chemical engineer Mark Prausnitz, a team at Georgia Tech has developed a low-cost, painless, bloodless skin patch. The study was published in the journal iScience on September 14, 2022.

How does “microneedling” work?

“Microneedles” in various configurations can be assembled like pixels. Each design is inked and taped to the skin to imprint the design. It seems to be possible to do this without any discomfort or bleeding. The process is self-managing.

Those who are afraid of the discomfort of traditional tattoo needles can use the patch. However, the team started its investigation with medical patients in mind. Medical tattoos can be used to repair nipples after breast surgery, cover up scars from previous radiation treatments for cancer, and guide future treatments. They can also be used as health monitors in place of bracelets. They may inform medical professionals of critical illnesses, including diabetes, epilepsy, or allergies. Perhaps the most interesting applications of this technology, however, are those that are more future-proof. It has recently started exploring the use of tattoos to help animal organizations identify neutered and spayed animals.

Will it affect contemporary tattoo work?

These patches do not yet offer enough resolution to compete with contemporary tattoo works. In theory, if the resolution could be increased in the future, anyone could create their own tattoos, print out patches and stick to it, and an easy way to print out those patches could be created. Given the talent and time required to craft, these patches won’t have a major impact on the tattoo industry, as these designs are small and important.

This article was written by Ananya Jena.

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