Porcupine Quill Structure May Offer Model for Future Medical Devices

A defining characteristic of the North American porcupine is the 30,000 quills on its back, which can quickly release into a predator and cause pain and damage when removed. Researchers recently examined natural and synthetic porcupine quills to test how they penetrate tissue. Their study revealed that the tips have backward-facing barbs that slip into the tissue with ease but catch and drag it during removal, thereby creating a strong grip with minimal effort and depth of penetration. The quills’ structure may inspire--and serve as a model for developing--improved medical adhesives as well as needles.
Source: NIGMS Biomedical Beat - Category: Research Source Type: news