Image Source: Pexels
The needle is a hollow shaft, narrow metal tube made of stainless steel or nickel whose tip is sharp with a plastic base and is disposable. It consists of three parts, the base, the cannula or stem, and the bevel. The base connects the metal tube to the syringe. It is conical in shape and is translucent or characterized by a color (green, blue, black) that differs according to the diameter of the needle. Attached to the base, the stem is made of oxidizable steel. It can be coated with silicone oil to facilitate penetration into the body without any risk of side effects. The oblique part at the end of the stem is bevel. The choice of the metal shaft depends on the viscosity of the solution and the route of administration. Depending on the purpose, they are divided into injection, biopsy and surgical needles. They are designed for the introduction of solutions of drugs, blood collection from a vein or artery, or blood transfusion. Most medical needles have a high strength to prevent bending during the operation and are mostly made of stainless steel hence highly resistant to corrosion. Some of the medical needles that are commonly used by doctors are listed below:
1. Hypodermic Needles
A hypodermic needle is a hollow metal shaft which can pass through the skin to inject substances into the body. It can also be used to take liquid samples from the body, for example, a blood sample. They are used to inject substance just under the skin (subcutaneous injection), or into a muscle (intramuscular injection), or directly into the bloodstream (intravenous injection). All current hypodermic needles and their syringes are designed to be used only once because of the difficulty in achieving effective and marginal decontamination after the first use. Reusing or sharing needles can transmit many diseases through blood transmission, such as HIV or hepatitis C. As such, after using them for once, they should be thrown into a waste container.
2. Huber Needles
The Huber needle is a special hollow metal shaft that is used in implantable port systems. Repeated puncture of the veins for diseases that require long-term treatment can lead to serious problems and limit the possibilities of further treatment. Such patients require a constant, stable and safe central venous access. Huber needles are suitable for all cases when a long-term intake of chemotherapy drugs, antibiotics, painkillers, as well as full parenteral nutrition and blood transfusion are necessary. In addition, through it, you can make frequent blood samples without additional skin punctures, which is convenient for the patient and reduces the burden on medical personnel.
3. Spinal Needles
Spinal needles are used to puncture the spinal space for anesthesia, diagnosis or treatment which involves the introduction of anesthetic into the subarachnoid space in order to block impulses transmitted along the roots of the nerves of the spinal cord. This procedure provides pain relief, loss of sensitivity and relaxation of the muscles of the lower body to perform surgery. It can also be used for taking lumbar puncture. Depending on the type of cut, the spinal needle comes in three different types: Quincke, Whitacre and Sprotte.
4. Pen/Insulin Needle
Pen needles, also known as insulin needle, make injections easier, more accurate and more convenient than with a syringe. The purpose of insulin injections is to inject insulin under the skin without leakage and with minimal discomfort. To achieve this goal, choosing the appropriate length of it is crucial. There are several models, disposable or reusable, with different size, that your doctor will help you choose. Insulin can be injected: in the arms, in the belly, in the thighs, or in the buttocks. Although they are commonly used by people with diabetes, they require certain hygiene practices. For example: testing the dose by running a drop of insulin from the needle, rechecking and selecting the necessary insulin dose, sitting comfortably in a position that leaves the skin supple in the injection area, patiently count to 15 after injecting to avoid insulin loss.
5. Dialysis and Fistula Needles
The dialysis metal shafts are very thick and are made of a special steel alloy which provides exceptional smoothness of its surface. Thin walls and trihedral sharpening allow puncturing the fistula delicately and accurately. The surface of it is covered with silicone, so it easily passes through the fabric and is indifferent to the vessel. They have a specific color according to the type of needle: blue for the venous purpose, red for the arterial purpose. Such classification helps to easily distinguish the purpose and avoid mistakes.
The length of the medical needle ranges from 0.5 inches to 3 inches and the diameter, which is measured in gauges ranges from 7G to 34G (G stands for gauge). The gauge of the needle is inversely proportional to the diameter of it; the smaller the gauge the larger the diameter of the needle.
About The Author:
Maria Brendel is a frequent traveler and freelance writer. She has finished her studies in the literature. She likes to write on travel, General and current affairs. She also works closely with B2C And B2B businesses providing blog writing and copywriting services. Her aim in life is to write a novel.
