It was supposed to be the perfect spy tool: a silent device capable of delivering drugs through clothing with no trace and no needle.
Instead, it ended up in a folder stamped with failure-and a warning about what science can’t solve with gadgets alone.
A 1950s-era evaluation of the CIA’s "hypo-spray" jet injector reveals the agency’s attempt to create a discreet, high-pressure weapon for covert chemical delivery.
But despite years of development and dozens of prototypes, the final verdict was blunt: too loud, too clumsy, too inconsistent.
🧪 The Dream: Drugs Delivered at the Push of a Button
The CIA had high hopes for the hypo-spray. They wanted a compact, reusable device that could inject chemicals through clothing without the subject knowing.
Early models were tested with ampoules of ¼, ½, and 1cc doses-enough for everything from truth serums to tranquilizers.
"The hypo-spray is the most effective jet injection device developed to date."
- Internal evaluation, ARTICHOKE project
Unfortunately, "most effective" didn’t mean practical. Accuracy varied wildly. Loud clicks gave away its use.
And suspensions-thicker fluids, often needed for psychoactive effects-frequently jammed the injector.
🔇 Loud Enough to Blow Its Own Cover
"No way has been found to eliminate the noise made by the instrument at the time of release."
- Research notes, ARTICHOKE
The CIA tried gas-powered models.
They explored nitrogen compression.
They even considered shrinking the device to pen size, but smaller versions couldn’t carry enough dosage-and became unreliable under pressure.
By the time 40 models were built and tested, a conclusion emerged: the science wasn’t there.
Not yet.
🕳️ Maybe Not for Spies, But Maybe for Doctors
Even as the program was shelved for clandestine operations, CIA officials noted its potential in medicine.
The idea of a reliable, needleless injector had obvious healthcare applications-especially for mass vaccination or battlefield medicine.
But for CIA black ops? Not worth it.
"The device cannot be relied upon for clandestine use unless further refinements are made… especially size and sound."
- Final assessment, ARTICHOKE evaluation
