Porcupine quills inspire new medical innovations

If you’ve known a dog that’s been quilled by a porcupine, then you’ll know that while those quills go in all-too-easily, it’s very difficult to pull them out. As part of a new research project, however, a team of scientists are looking at replicating those very characteristics in things like hypodermic needles and surgical adhesives. It turns out that what’s a bane to overly-inquisitive dogs may be a boon to medical technology.

Porcupine quills inspire medical devices › News in Science (ABC Science)

Barbs make porcupine quills into nasty needles : Nature News & Comment

Porcupine quills could help scientists develop less painful hypodermic needles

Biomimicry: Turning to nature for technological solutions - CBS News

Porcupine Quills Are Inspiring Safer Healthcare

The sketch of conventional surgical staple pins and the bio-inspired

Porcupine quills inspire new medical innovations

Porcupine quills inspire new medical innovations

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Could a porcupine quill be fashioned into a needle to administer intravenous fluids, if need be? - Quora