A research published in the journal Medical Engineering & Physics has thrown light on a new invention that would replace a standard medical injection with a needle.

The new device dubbed ‘jet injector’ has been developed by MIT, which would perform the same function like an injection but would not use a needle.

Researchers from the MIT’s department of mechanical engineering have revealed that jet injectors are already available though, these are unable to control drug injection speeds. The new device however works at the speed of sound approximately.

It is also better than those which only work with tiny drug molecules to pass through the skin's pores. It has been told that the device uses a powerful magnet and electric current to inject drugs. The changes in current make the injector to work in a high-speed phase as well as a lower-pressure phase.

While the high-speed one allows entering the skin to a certain depth, the latter allows delivering the drug in a slow stream, which further allows absorption.

"If you are afraid of needles and have to frequently self-inject, compliance can be an issue. We think this kind of technology … gets around some of the phobias that people may have about needles”, said author Catherine Hogan.