A Brief Discussion on Types of Needles and Syringes

Needles and Syringes are among the most used medical apparatus. In this article, we will be discussing about some of the most used types of these medical apparatus.

 

The most widely discussed classifications of syringes are non Luer Lok and Luer Lok syringes. This classification is made based on the kind of tip these units possess. The Luer-Lok syringes come equipped with tips that need needles that get twisted and locked into appropriate place. This design ensures that the needle doesn’t slip out of the syringe accidentally. The other type i.e. the non Luer Lok syringes come with tips which need needles that get pressed onto them; you will not need to twist these needles to place them properly.

 

There’s another way of classifying syringes; this time we are classifying it based on the purpose it’s used for. The two most widely used types include insulin syringe and tuberculin syringe. The insulin syringes are significantly small in size and are capable of holding 0.3 to 1 ml of medication. They are usually calibrated in units instead of milliliters. The majority of the insulin syringes get calibrated up to hundred units. Another important characteristic of these syringes is that they are designed to allow seamless self-injection. They are mostly used for administering subcutaneous injections.

 

The other type i.e. tuberculin syringes are used to test patients for tuberculosis. The fluid in these syringes gets injected directly into the patient’s skin. Although these syringes are small in size, unlike the insulin syringes, they get calibrated in milliliters. The most prominent feature of the tuberculin syringes is their thin barrel that comes equipped with a pre-attached needle. These pieces are capable of accommodating 1 ml of medication. Here, it must be mentioned that in spite having a petite structure, they cannot be used for giving insulin.

 

Now, let us discuss about needles and their types. The majority of the needles available on the market currently have stainless steel body. They have a hollow structure and boast a miniature hole right at the middle. Their bodies are segregated into three main parts, the hub, the shaft and the bevel. The hub is the part that fits onto the syringe’s tip. The shaft of the needle is its long slender part. A needle’s bevel, on the other hand, is its slanted tip.

 

Needles are usually classified based on their diameter and length. Their length ranges between 0.5 inch and 3 inches. Their diameter gets measured in gauge. A 19 gauge needle is known to possess bigger diameter than a 25 gauge piece. This means the greater would be the gauge of a needle and smaller would be its diameter.

 

A needle must be of at least 7-gauge. The maximum limit, on the other hand, is 33-gauge. Doctors select gauge of a needle based on the density of the medication they are injecting. For instance, for extremely thick medications, doctors always use needles of smaller gauge. If the density is less, doctors tend to use needles of bigger gauge.

 

Author bio: The writer of this article runs the OnlineMedicalSupply store that has tie-ups with a number of renowned hospital chains. His store boasts huge collections of medical supplies used in hospitals including surgical equipment, hospital beds, wheel chairs, etc.