Hypospray | |
---|---|
Plot element from the Star Trek franchise | |
First appearance | Star Trek: The Original Series |
Created by | Gene Roddenberry |
Genre | Science fiction |
In-story information | |
Type | Medical tool |
Function | Used to inject medication into a patient's body |
Affiliation | Starfleet |
A hypospray is a fictional version of a jet injector. Sometimes it is used as a verb, “to hypospray”, meaning “to use a hypospray on (someone/something)”.
The concept of the hypospray was developed when producers of the original Star Trek series discovered that NBC's broadcast standards and practices prohibited the use of hypodermic syringes to inject medications; the needleless hypospray sidestepped this issue.[1] The prop used in the original series appeared to be a modified fuel injector for a large automotive diesel engine, similar to the engines from which jet injectors were derived.[2]
In the Star Trek universe,
In the Star Trek universe, the hypospray was developed by the mid-22nd century, as it is featured in Star Trek: Enterprise. Many people, such as Dr. Crusher in Star Trek: The Next Generation, and The Doctor in Star Trek: Voyager and Dr. McCoy in Star Trek: The Original Series are often seen using it.
The real-life jet injector is usually applied at the top of the arm, but the fictional hypospray is sometimes applied at the neck. Presumably, when used in the neck, it delivers the medication intravenously or intra-arterially and when used in the arm, it delivers intramuscularly. The hypospray can also be applied through clothing.
The hypospray is extremely versatile, as the medicine vials can be quickly swapped out from the bottom of the hypospray. As the hypospray is bloodless, it is not contaminated by use. This allows it to be used on many people until the supply of medicine runs out.
References
- ^ Whitfield SE, Roddenberry G (1991) [1969]. The Making of Star Trek. Titan Books. ISBN 1-85286-363-3.
- ^ "Hypospray". American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy. 8 (3): 182–184. 1 June 1951. doi:10.1093/ajhp/8.3.182. ISSN 1079-2082.
External links
- Hypospray at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)