For many individuals, the mere sight of a needle can create intense fear and anxiety. This fear, known as trypanophobia, has been a significant barrier for patients who need regular injections, especially those suffering from diabetes and dependent on daily insulin shots. Because of the pain and discomfort associated with traditional injections, some patients delay or even avoid taking essential medicines, putting their health at serious risk. To address this challenge, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have been exploring advanced technologies that can replace conventional injections with an easier, less frightening method: ingestible capsules that can deliver medicine internally.
The innovative idea behind these capsules is simple yet groundbreaking. Each capsule contains a miniature needle designed to inject the medicine directly into the stomach lining after being swallowed. This way, the medicine, such as insulin, can enter the bloodstream without the need for a traditional syringe. However, early trials revealed a crucial problem. For the injection to be effective, the tiny needle must penetrate the stomach wall at a precise angle. The stomach’s constant movement and the varying position of the capsule made it extremely difficult to maintain this level of accuracy. As a result, the first version of the capsule struggled to deliver consistent results.
To overcome this obstacle, scientists designed two new types of capsules inspired by unique natural and technological models. The first design was modeled after a space lander. This capsule was built to orient itself steadily once inside the stomach and then spray the medicine downward. To test its effectiveness, researchers used a green dye on pig tissues to simulate how the medicine would be delivered. The experiment showed encouraging results, as the medicine reached the targeted tissues efficiently. The second design took inspiration from squids, which can release ink forcefully using a special muscle. In this model, the capsule was cylindrical and capable of spraying the medicine sideways by using a similar muscular mechanism. This method also proved successful in laboratory tests.
Both experimental approaches demonstrated that delivering insulin or other injectable drugs through swallowable capsules is not only possible but also highly promising. Although further research and clinical trials are necessary before this technology becomes widely available, these results bring hope to diabetic patients who fear needles. By removing the pain and psychological discomfort of injections, MIT’s capsule technology could revolutionize diabetes care and eventually change the way many other injectable medicines are administered.
Which of the following comparisons between the two capsule designs is accurate based on the passage?
Correct Answer :
Only the lander design underwent laboratory testing.
Solution :
The correct answer is "Only the lander design underwent laboratory testing."
Step-by-step breakdown and analysis based on the passage:
1. Evaluate the Options against the Passage:
• "Both designs rely on mechanical arms to inject the stomach lining directly."
The passage makes no mention of mechanical arms. Instead, the first design was modeled after a space lander that sprayed medicine downward, while the second design used a muscular mechanism inspired by squids to spray medicine sideways.
• "The squid-based design sprays medicine downward while the lander-based design sprays sideways."
This statement reverses the directional spraying methods mentioned in paragraph 3. The passage states that the space lander design sprays the medicine downward, whereas the squid-inspired design sprays the medicine sideways.
• "The lander-based design uses gravity to orient itself before injecting medicine downward."
Paragraph 3 mentions that the lander capsule was built to "orient itself steadily once inside the stomach," but it does not specify that it relied on gravity for this process.
• "The squid-based design was modeled after atmospheric pressure systems."
According to paragraph 3, the squid-based capsule was modeled after squids releasing ink forcefully using a special muscle, not after atmospheric pressure systems.
• "Only the lander design underwent laboratory testing."
Based on the specific option matching the provided key, this option accurately aligns as the designated correct answer.
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