Understanding the Parts of a Syringe

29 Apr.,2024

 

Understanding the Parts of a Syringe

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Syringes are an indispensable tool used daily in the medical, industrial, pharmaceutical, and veterinary industries. Their seemingly simplistic design belies the tremendous value and benefits that they offer.

Syringes have come a long way since their invention in the year 1650. While the modern syringe still offers the same basic functionality of precisely administering liquids, advances in technology have given rise to specialized variants that are ideal for one or more specific applications.

Read on to learn more as we break down the various parts of a syringe and discover how they can impact your business:

What Are the Parts of a Syringe?

Generally speaking, there are three parts to any given syringe:

#1. The Barrel—The barrel forms the body of a syringe that houses the plunger. It’s typically graduated, which means the markings indicate accurate measurement volumes. The majority of barrels are made out of clear, see-through plastic. However, in some instances, an opaque barrel is required for light-sensitive applications.

#2. The Plunger—Also called a piston, the plunger can move freely up and down and creates a vacuum that pulls liquid up into the syringe. It can be made entirely out of plastic or glass, or have a rubber tip (or gasket) attached.

#3. The Tip—There are four basic types of syringe tips:

  • Luer Lock—engages the hub of the needle with a threaded locking mechanism. Ideal for high-pressure applications or to provide an increased level of security for end-users.
  • Luer Slip—secures a needle using friction after the needle hub slides or “slips” onto the tip. The tip of a luer slip syringe can be located in the center (Centric) or off to the side (Eccentric).
  • Catheter—catheter syringes are the largest style tip design. They’re primarily used for irrigation and other similar applications.
  • Oral—this type of tip appears similar to a luer slip. However, they’re slightly oversized to prevent the attachment of a needle. These are often used for oral administration of medicine for pediatrics and animal medicine.

Common Syringe Questions

Now that you know the three main parts of a syringe, we’ll share some common questions we hear about syringes and answer them for you. If you have a question that we don’t answer, please let us know.

What is the Biggest Syringe?

There are a wide variety of syringe sizes that are ideal for different applications. One of the largest available syringes comes in the form of a large volume gastight syringe that can dispense liquids in volumes from 50 mL up to 2 L.

What is the Smallest Syringe?

The smallest syringe sizes can go as low as 0.3 mL. Many lab and medical applications benefit from these smaller syringes, such as when doing bone marrow aspirations or working with micro specimens. Aesthetic practices also prefer smaller syringes for injecting precise doses of toxins.

What is the Difference Between Luer Lock vs. Luer Slip Syringe?

The difference between the two comes down to how the needle is attached to the syringe. A Luer Lock allows for the needle to be twisted onto the tip and locked into place. For Luer Slip, the needle is pushed onto the tip. Luer Lock also prevents the needle tip from accidentally falling off when injecting fluids.

What is the Difference Between a 2-Part and 3-Part Syringe?

A 3-part syringe consists of a rubber gasket that sits on the tip of the plunger located inside the barrel. On the other hand, a 2-Part syringe does not utilize a rubber tip on the plunger to create the vacuum seal. Instead, it uses a slightly oversized plunger head that expands the barrel and creates a vacuum as it’s drawn downwards.

2-part syringes do not require a lubricant to work and are ideal for applications that cannot have the potential for foreign substances (such as silicon oil) to potentially interfere with the desired results.

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Syringe and Needle Selection Guide by Burt Cancaster

 

Updated: December 30, 2021

 

 

 

 

Most of us can recognize a syringe, with a needle sticking out of a long plastic body. For many, it is a childhood horror that they can never forget! While your early years may have been spent dreading a needle, your teens or adulthood might require you to keep a supply of syringes ready to administer a doctor-prescribed medication. When you start your own family, you may need a supply of needles for a family member to treat a medical condition. In this case, not only do you need to forget your old dread of this small medical device, but you will also need to know how to use it. Most importantly, you need to know that not all syringes are the same. There are different designs to meet different purposes.

 

Types of Syringes

Syringes are available in several different designs and varieties. Most are disposable, and many come with an attached needle or with no needle at all. You may select the size of the syringe by the volume of medication it holds. Below is an image depicting the parts of a syringe.

 

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Selecting Syringes

Select syringes based upon the volume of medication prescribed and the desired pressure flow. Marked on the barrel is the amount of medication the syringe can hold, measured in centimeters (cc) or milliliters (mL). Both types of measurements are equivalent in volume. One cc is the same as a 1 mL. Large quantities of medication require larger syringe sizes. A need for lower-pressure flows also requires a larger size. Whether the syringe is needed for injection, irrigation, or use with medical tubing is also a factor in syringe selection. A prevalent type is the U-100 insulin syringe. It is a low-volume syringe commonly used for diabetic medications. This syringe is for one-time use only and is thus a very low-cost syringe. Below is an infographic of a continuum depicting syringe sizes matched with corresponding usage -- injections, medical tubing, or irrigation.

 

Syringe Tips

There are five basic types of syringe tips. The first and most popular is the Luer lock, which has a tip that allows the removal and reattachment of the needle. Disconnecting or attaching the needle is easy and quick. The needle hub locks to the syringe tip with a push and a twist. The twisting motion locks the needle hub into place. This twist mount helps secure the needle to the syringe for better safety and stability.

A slip tip syringe is also very common. The user may push the needle hub onto the syringe. Friction holds the needle hub in place on the syringe tip. There is no locking function like that found on the Luer lock.

Use eccentric tips when you need to administer a medication parallel to the skin of the patient. Use these tips when you want to inject into a surface vein without having the needle penetrate through both vascular walls. Aspiration of liquid medications is also effortless with this type of syringe.

Catheter tip syringes are useful for wound irrigation, for flushing medical tubing. Medical manufacturers make catheter tips with a tapered end to allow catheters to slip on and off of the tip.

The last type of tip is a syringe with a permanently attached needle. Frequently used for low-dose applications, these devices decrease medication waste. It is also disposable after use, making cleanup a snap. Tuberculin and insulin injections are popular with this syringe type.

 

 

Selecting Needles

Needles have a simple design with a hollow center, sharp point, and a hub that affixes to the syringe. Needle shafts come in varying lengths measured in inches. Guage sizes measure the thicknesses or diameter of the needle. Needle tips most often have a beveled tip to provide easier cutting or puncturing. Many needles come with a cap to protect the caregiver during the transition from package removal to needle use.

The criteria for selecting the right needle has three primary considerations--gauge, length, and use. Needle gauge measures the width or diameter of the needle. Length measures from the hub to the tip of the needle. Needle use refers to how deep the needle must traverse to reach the target injection area. These injection depths include intradermal (dermis injections), subcutaneous (subcutaneous tissue injections) and muscle (intramuscular injections.

 

Choosing the Needle Gauge

Selecting needles by gauge size occurs by considering skin or hide thickness and the depth of the injection. The needle gauge is a series of numbers in which the lower the number, the wider the diameter of the needle. The higher the gauge number, the smaller the needle width. On the other hand, smaller numbers denote a larger diameter or width. Larger-diameter gauges have thicker needle walls and are stronger and more durable. Select a higher gauge number to administer more viscous medications and to support denser skin penetration. Select a lower gauge number when using a high-viscosity medication. Fine gauge needles (small diameter) offer less pain for the patient and accommodate low-viscosity medications. The most common needle gauges are 26 and 27. This gauge range adapts to all three types of injections -- intradermal, intramuscular, and subcutaneous. See the Needle Gauge Continuum below for more details.

 

Choosing the Right Needle Length

Standard needles vary in length from 3/8 inch to 3 1/2 inches. The location of the administration determines the needle length required. Generally, the further the depth of the injection, the longer the needle. Intramuscular injections require extended needle lengths. Needle lengths for intramuscular injections are usually 7/8 to 1 1/2 inches. Subcutaneous injections call for a needle length of 1/2 inch to 5/8 inch. Intradermal injections require a needle length of 3/8 inch to 3/4 inch. The 1/2- and 5/8-inch needles are the two most common needle lengths and span both intradermal and subcutaneous injections. Below are three graphics to help select which is the best needle for your needs.

 

Purchasing Syringes and Needles

When you buy syringes, it is essential that you know which one you need. Are you using the syringe with needle for intradermal injections, intramuscular injections, or subcutaneous injections? The needle gauge and needle length selection are different for each type of injection. Below is a quick list of the selection criteria used for purchasing a syringe and needle.

  • The volume of medication to be administered determines syringe size.
  • Type of needle hub used determines the syringe hub (Luer lock, slip tip, eccentric tip, or catheter tip)
  • The viscosity of the medication determines the needle gauge.
  • Location of the injection determines needle gauge and needle length.

Make sure you know your needs before shopping!

 

 

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