Georgia Institute of Technology
Scientists at Georgia Institute of Technology have been developing painless, press-on tattoos that could transform the way tattoos are used within medical settings.
The patches are covered in very small microneedles, made from tattoo ink. When the patch is pressed onto the skin, the needles dissolve and deposit the ink in a quick, easy and pain-free way. The resulting tattoos are so far quite pixelated and simplistic in design.
Georgia Institute of Technology
Tattoos in medicine are often used instead of medical bracelets to alert people to any serious health conditions like diabetes, epilepsy, or any allergies to medicine.
Georgia Institute of Technology
The patches are still in development, but it looks as if the tattoos created will be permanent. Scientists also say it could be used with temporary tattoo ink, for situations where the design doesn’t need to last forever. This could be really useful in treatment settings, for example as a marker for repeated radiation treatments.
Georgia Institute of Technology
The patches were initially developed as a way of administering vaccines, but scientists soon saw the potential they had to reimagine tattooing for medical settings. As a more comfortable option, it will also allow vets to give pets identifying tattoos as well. This could be just as useful as medical alert tattoos for humans; if your pet gets into a medical emergency it could help to prevent them receiving the wrong medication.
Georgia Institute of Technology
Could we be giving ourselves patch-tattoos in the near future? Maybe, but these patches can’t replace the artistry of tattooers. This is a method developed for a very specific, medical purpose, and not one that was intended to put any artists out of a job.
