The multinational technology company has filed a patent for a "needle-free blood draw" system that would be built into smartwatches, or even handheld devices like smartphones.

The system works like this, according to the filing: the machine sends an "abrupt surge" of gas into a barrel housing a "micro-particle" that does indeed puncture the skin and draws a miniscule amount of blood. The droplet is then sucked up into a negative pressure barrel. Theoretically, the entire process would be quicker, easier, and less painful than even the most modern glucose meter used by diabetics.

In fact, Google believes the invention might one day replace glucose meters entirely.