Medical syringes: types and purpose. Types of needles and syringes used for injections

No one is safe from injections, even the healthiest person; moreover, vaccinations are needed to keep us healthy. That is why the syringe is not only a symbol of fear, but also a symbol of health. As doctors say, the injection itself is not as dangerous as a low-quality syringe. Today, an injection can be made as painless as possible; the main thing is to choose the ideal device for this procedure.

In the mid-20th century, the most common medical syringes were made of glass and chrome-plated metal. The first disposable medical syringe made of plastic was invented by veterinarian Murdoch, but over time, this invention was appreciated not only by animals, but also by people: the medicine quickly reached any target, instantly absorbed into the blood. After some time, the medical syringe also acquired a seal for the piston: most often in the pharmacy you can find just such a device for injections. Today, medical syringes can be bought in a wide variety of sizes and designs. The main thing is to understand the patient’s needs and choose the highest quality medical devices.

Syringes: what are they?

Medical syringes are divided into several categories and according to several parameters.

• Position of the cone tip. A needle is attached to this cone on the syringe barrel. This situation could be:

a) Concentric or coaxial. In this case, the tip is located directly in the middle of the cylinder of the injection device. Typically, this position occurs with small-volume syringes for injection under the skin or into muscles.

b) Displaced or eccentric. The cone is located on the side of the cylinder. These are needed for blood collection.

• Needle fastening.

a) Integrated into the cylinder. There are also medical syringes, the volume of which is no more than one milliliter.

b) Luer. One of the most popular types of fastening. In this case, the needle is put on the part of the cylinder that protrudes. Characteristic for medical syringes of even the largest volumes.

c) Luer-lock. With it, a needle is “screwed” into a syringe. It is used in droppers, perfusers and infusion pumps, but is not very suitable for ordinary injections. But this is an ideal option for introducing drugs into hard tissues of cartilage or periosteum.

d) Catheter type. Suitable, for example, for feeding, drainage, rinsing abscesses, as well as for administering any medicine through a catheter.

• Design.

A) Two-component. They consist only of a piston and a cylinder, so the injection can be very prickly and painful.

B) Three-component. In order to remove maximum pain during the injection, it was enough to place a rubber seal on the piston. Because of this, the piston began to move more smoothly, and the parts of the medical syringe stopped rubbing against each other. All this helped relieve pain during and after the injection. For the same purposes, by the way, an atraumatic needle was created, which has a tip of three edges and is better polished. Thanks to this design, the muscle fibers do not tear, but only move apart and there is no pain. BogMark medical syringes are equipped with such a needle.

Advice: if you want to give an injection to a person for whom you want only the best, look at the quality of the syringe and its manufacturer. In order to avoid pain and children's tears, choose a three-component syringe from the best manufacturers, including, for example, the already mentioned BogMark, Plastipak, Omnifix. Make sure that the device is sterile. And be sure to pay attention to the volume of the syringe: the capabilities of this simple device and its purpose depend on it. For a child, you should also choose a needle with the smallest diameter.

What types of syringes are there by volume?

The volume of a medical syringe refers to the volume of its cylinder. The cylinder volume is small, standard and large. They all have their own purpose; they are unlikely to be capable of anything else.

We need to talk about the purpose of medical syringes of different sizes first of all, because otherwise you can make a mistake with the “capacity”.

• Syringes with the smallest volume. These include syringes with volumes such as 1 ml, 0.3, and ½ ml. They are needed, for example, in such branches of medicine as endocrinology (insulin syringe), phthisiology (medical tuberculin syringes), neonatology (for the little ones). Also, such miniature devices are used to conduct intradermal allergy testing and for vaccinations.
• Syringes with standard volume. These include all devices with a volume from two milliliters to 22. They are used in any branch of medicine and are used for procedures such as intravenous injections (they require a cylinder of 10-22 ml), intramuscular (using a cylinder of 2-6 milliliters) , as well as subcutaneous (here you need a cylinder with a volume of three milliliters).
• The largest syringes. This refers to those whose cylinder has the largest volume. These include thirty-milliliter devices. And also having a “displacement” of 60.50 and 100 ml. The largest syringe is most often needed to rinse cavities, suck out liquids and introduce nutrient media.

Advice. Whatever procedure you do, follow the basic rules for performing an injection: be sure to wash your hands, put on gloves, and first treat the injection site with an alcohol swab. And first the entire zone, then the area where the injection will be done. The needle is inserted at an angle equal to half a straight line.

Disinfection of disposable syringes - processing rules Syringe pen for insulin with a removable needle - how to choose? Syringe pen Novopen 4 - injector for insulin administration
Needles for insulin syringe pens, device features and applications

In medicine syringe- a medical instrument intended for injections, diagnostic punctures, and suction of pathological contents from cavities. Comes from the German Spritze (from spritzen - to splash).

Based on the number of components (component parts), syringes can be divided into 2- and 3-component ones.

How to choose a syringe?

Which syringe is better, 2-component or 3-component?

Two-component syringes (photo No. 1)- these are syringes consisting of 2 parts (components): a cylinder and a piston

Three-component syringes (photo No. 2)- these are syringes consisting of 3 parts (components): a cylinder, a piston and a rubber seal

Video material: two-component, three-component syringes, luer-lock and luer-slip fastening

To inject viscous solutions (for example, oil-based), it is better to use a syringe with a Luer Lock fastening (photo No. 3).

This type of fastening of the needle to the syringe eliminates the possibility of it slipping, since the needle is “screwed” into the mount, and not just put on it, as is the case with Luer Slip (for photos of syringes with Luer Slip mount, see photos No. 1 and No. 2)

Luer Lock mount

(photo No. 3)

Pros and cons of two-component and three-component syringes.

PRICE

As a rule, the cost of two-component syringes is lower than their three-component counterparts. This is largely due to the simplification of manufacturing technology: creating a syringe from 2 parts is easier and cheaper than from 3 parts.

EXPLOITATION

To displace the piston of a two-component syringe may be needed application of greater force and its movement is not as free as that of a three-component one, and accordingly, after some time the specialist using these syringes in his work will get tired

Due to the fact that when the syringe piston moves, plastic rubs against plastic, control of injection uniformity may be difficult , which, again, requires the medical worker using this syringe to increase tension in the arm muscles, which leads to their rapid fatigue

With a smoother (see 3-part syringe) sliding of the piston inside the cylinder, injection to the patient there must be less painful.

A good two-component (two-part) syringe will provide a smoother and more painless administration of the medicinal solution than a cheap three-component syringe purchased only “on advice” due to the presence of a rubber seal in it.

The rubber seal does not guarantee the smooth running of the syringe, just as its absence will not spoil the smooth running of a good two-component syringe.

SAFETY

RISK OF MICROPARTICLES ENTERING THE INJECTION SOLUTION

There is an opinion that when the piston rubs against the cylinder of a two-component syringe, particles of the polymer material of which they are composed can be “scraped” by the piston from the inside of the cylinder and, together with the contents of the syringe, enter the body tissues when the injection is administered

The three-component syringe has a special rubber part that improves the sliding of the piston inside the cylinder and eliminates the possibility of scraping off the plastic inside the piston, and also ensures greater tightness and prevents the injection solution from getting beyond the surface of the piston with a rubber nozzle

The rubber part (component) of the syringe may contain natural latex, which can cause allergic reactions if the predisposition is appropriate. It should be noted that in the production of most modern three-component syringes, synthetic hypoallergenic materials that do not cause allergies are used.

DISPOSAL

It is known that disposable medical syringes must be disposed of after use. The medical worker who is responsible for preparing syringes for disposal knows that preparing 2-component syringes are much simpler. It consists of “disassembling” the syringe into its component parts: the medical worker disconnects the needle from the syringe in one of the following ways, depending on the availability of special devices in the medical institution:

• - removing the needle using a needle puller;
• - cutting off the needle using a needle cutter with an integrated puncture-proof needle container;
• - destruction of the needle using a needle destructor - devices for burning needles by exposure to high temperature.

And finally, especially for mothers who came here to find out: “Which syringe should I use to inject my child?”

1) Selecting the volume of the syringe for injection.

The volume should correspond to the volume of the medicinal solution that you plan to administer to the baby, but 0.5-1 cc more. Syringes often have extra space, such as a 2ml syringe. may have a scale of up to 2.5 ml., and a syringe of 5 ml. - scale up to 6 ml. That is, if you need a 2ml syringe, then a 3ml one will do. But, as the volume of the syringe increases, the product becomes more expensive, so there is no point in overpaying for empty cubes.

2) Select a two- or three-piece syringe.

It will be more convenient for you to use a 3-component syringe (the one with a rubber seal). It will ensure a smoother (without jerking) injection and will prevent leakage of the medicine (leakage of the medicine more often occurs when using low-quality 2-component syringes, i.e. poorly assembled and without a rubber seal on the piston)

3) High-quality syringe from a trusted manufacturer.

The assortment includes syringes with volumes of 0.5ml, 1ml, 2ml, 3ml, 5ml (and others).

What really matters is choosing an injection needle. There is a high probability that the needle supplied with the syringe will not be suitable for your baby. It is important to choose needles very carefully. Ask your healthcare provider which needles are needed for your prescribed injections. Of course, you want to prick your baby with the thinnest and most painless needles, but this is not always possible, because... the injected substance may be viscous and injection will be difficult. Therefore, it is important to know the thickness and length of the required needle.

Treatment of diabetes mellitus involves a number of measures aimed at maintaining glycemic levels within normal limits.

To achieve this goal, some patients have to not only follow a diet, but also take special medications or subcutaneously inject the amount of insulin required by the body. Thanks to special syringes, hormone injections can be performed quickly and painlessly.

What is an insulin syringe?

Insulin therapy requires the mandatory use of special medical devices and supplies.

Most often, insulin syringes are used to administer medication. In appearance, they are similar to conventional medical devices, as they contain a body, a special piston, and a needle.

What products are there:

• glass;
• plastic.

The disadvantage of a glass product is the need to regularly count the number of units of the drug, so it is now used less often. The plastic version ensures that injections are performed in the required proportion. The drug is completely consumed, leaving no residue inside the body. Any of the listed syringes can be used several times, provided they are constantly treated with an antiseptic and used by one patient.

Plastic products are available in several versions. You can buy them at almost every pharmacy.

Needle volume and length

Insulin syringes can have different volumes, which determine the amount of insulin they hold, and the length of the needle. Each model has a scale and special divisions that help you determine how many milliliters of medicine you can put into the body.

According to established standards, 1 ml of medicine is equal to 40 units/ml. Such a medical device is marked u40. Some countries use insulins containing 100 units in each ml of solution. To perform injections with such hormones, you will need to purchase special syringes engraved u100. Before using the instruments, it is necessary to additionally determine the concentration of the administered drug.

The presence of pain at the time of injection of the drug depends on the selected insulin needle. The medicine is delivered by subcutaneous injection into the fatty tissue. Its accidental entry into the muscles contributes to the development of hypoglycemia, so you need to choose the right needle. Its thickness is selected taking into account the area on the body where the medicine will be injected.

Types of needles depending on length:

• short (4-5 mm);
• medium (6-8 mm);
• long (over 8 mm).

The optimal length is considered to be 5-6 mm. Using needles with such parameters prevents the drug from entering the muscles, eliminating the risk of complications.

Types of syringes

The patient may not have medical skills, but he can easily inject the drug. To do this, it is enough to choose the most convenient version of the insulin product. The use of syringes that are suitable for the patient in all respects allows the injection to be given completely painlessly, and also provides the necessary control over the dosage of the hormone.

There are several types of instruments:

• with a removable needle or integrated;
• syringe pens.

With replaceable needles

Such devices differ from other similar devices in the ability to remove the nozzles together with the needle at the time of drawing the medicine. The piston in the product moves smoothly and gently along the body, reducing the risk of errors.

This feature is an important advantage, since even a minor error in dosage can lead to negative consequences. Products that allow for changing needles minimize the risk of complications during insulin therapy.

The most common disposable instruments have a volume of 1 ml and are designed to collect 40-80 units of the drug.

Syringes with an integrated or replaceable needle are practically no different from each other. The only difference between them is that the needle is soldered into the product, which does not have the ability to change the piercing nozzle.

Advantages of syringes with built-in components:

• safer, since they do not lose drops of the drug and ensure that the patient receives the selected dosage in full;
• have no dead zone.

The remaining characteristics, including divisions and scale on the case, are identical to those of other medical products.

Syringe pen

A medical instrument that includes an automatic piston is called a syringe pen. The product can be either plastic or glass. The first option is the most common among patients.

Composition of the syringe pen:

• frame;
• a cartridge filled with medicine;
• dispenser;
• needle cap and protection;
• rubber compressor;
• indicator (digital);
• button for administering medication;
• pen cap.

The advantages of such devices:

• painless puncture;
• ease of operation;
• no need to change the concentration of the drug, since special cartridges are used;
• a cartridge with medicine lasts for a long period;
• have a detailed scale for selecting dosage;
• It is possible to adjust the puncture depth.

Flaws:

• the injector cannot be repaired if a malfunction occurs;
• it is difficult to choose a suitable cartridge with medicine;
• high price.

Divisions

The graduation on the product corresponds to the concentration of the drug. The markings on the body indicate a certain number of units of medicine. For example, in injections intended for u40 concentration, 0.5 milliliters corresponds to 20 units.

Using improperly labeled products may result in an incorrectly administered dose of the drug. To correctly select the volume of the hormone, a special distinctive sign is provided. u40 products have a red cap, while u100 instruments have an orange cap.

Insulin pens also have their own graduations. Injectors are used with hormones whose concentration is 100 units. The accuracy of dosages depends on the length of the step between divisions: the smaller it is, the more accurately the amount of insulin will be determined.

How to use?

Before performing the procedure, you should prepare all the instruments and a bottle of medicine.

If it is necessary to simultaneously administer hormones with long-acting and short-acting effects, you need to:

1. Introduce air into the container with the drug (extended).
2. Perform a similar procedure using short-acting insulin.
3. Use a syringe to draw up a short-acting medicine, and then only a long-acting one.

Rules for administering the drug:

1. Wipe the medicine bottle with an alcohol wipe. If you need to administer a large amount, the insulin must first be shaken until a homogeneous suspension is obtained.
2. Place the needle in the bottle, then pull the piston to the desired division.
3. There should be a little more solution in the syringe than needed.
4. If bubbles appear, the solution should be shaken and the air should be squeezed out with a piston.
5. Wipe the injection area with an antiseptic.
6. Make a fold in the skin, then inject.
7. After each injection, the needles must be changed if they are replaceable.
8. If the length of the piercer exceeds 8 mm, then the injection must be performed at an angle to avoid getting into the muscle.

The photo shows how to properly administer the medicine:

How to calculate insulin?

To administer the drug correctly, you must be able to calculate its dosage. The amount of insulin a patient needs depends on the glycemic level. The dosage cannot be the same all the time, as it depends on the XE (bread units). It is important for the patient to learn to calculate the need for insulin, since it is impossible to understand differently how many ml of medicine will be needed to compensate for the carbohydrates eaten.

Each division on the injector is a graduation of the drug corresponding to a specific volume of solution. If the patient received 40 units, then using a solution of 100 units, he will need to administer 2.5 units/ml on u100 products (100:40 = 2.5).

Calculation rule table:

Video material on calculating the required doses of insulin:

How to use the pen?

The use of a syringe pen is as follows:

1. Install a new disposable needle on the product.
2. Determine the dose of the drug.
3. Scroll the scale until the desired number appears on the scale.
4. Perform the injection by pressing the button located on top of the handle (after the puncture).

Video instructions for using a syringe pen:

Cost and selection rules

People who regularly carry out insulin therapy know how much the materials necessary for this cost.

Approximate cost per piece:

• from 130 rubles for product u100;
• from 150 rubles for product u40;
• about 2000 rubles for a syringe pen.

The indicated prices apply only to imported devices. The cost of domestic (one-time use) is approximately 4-12 rubles.

There are standards that should be considered when selecting insulin therapy products.

These include:

1. The length of the needle depends on the age of the patient. It is recommended to use needles with a length of 5 mm for small children, and up to 12 for adults.
2. Obese people should use products that puncture to a depth of 8 mm or more.
3. Cheap products have lower quality and reliability.
4. Not all syringe pens can easily find replacement cartridges, so when purchasing them, you should find out in advance information about the availability of consumables necessary for injections.

It is important to understand that the effectiveness of insulin therapy depends on the injection tool chosen by the patient.

Medicines that enter the stomach are known to often have a detrimental effect on this organ. Or act too slowly when emergency help is needed. In these cases, a medical syringe becomes an indispensable tool. As, indeed, in the treatment of diabetes, vaccinations, rinsing cavities and other procedures. What syringes exist, who makes them, and what are the prices for these instruments today?

Types of medical syringes

We all know that a syringe is a cylinder, a plunger and a needle. But not everyone knows that these instruments have a lot of differences in a number of ways. Let's figure it out...

Design

Cylinder volume

• Up to 1 ml: used for intradermal tests, vaccinations, and drug administration.
• 2-22 ml: usually used for subcutaneous (up to 3 ml), intramuscular (up to 10 ml) and intravenous (up to 22 ml) injections.
• 30-100 ml: these instruments are needed for sanitation, for aspiration of liquids, for rinsing cavities and for administering nutrient solutions.

Needle attachment

• Luer: With this type of connection, the needle is placed on the syringe. This is the standard for instruments with a volume of 1-100 ml.
• Luer Lock: This is where the needle is screwed into the instrument. This type of connection is valuable in anesthesiology, when administering the drug into dense tissue, in cases where biomaterial sampling is required, etc.
• Catheter-type: Used when feeding through a tube or when administering medications through a catheter.
• Integrated needle: the needle is non-removable, already integrated into the body itself. Usually these are syringes up to 1 ml.

Number of uses

• Disposable: These are usually injection syringes, made of plastic and with a stainless steel needle.
• Reusable: Typically glass instruments. These include outdated Record-type models, as well as pen syringes, pistols, etc.

Needle length

Surgical and injection methods are known. Features of the 2nd option: hollow inside, choice - by caliber and type of tip.

Cone offset

• Concentric: placing a cone at the center of a cylinder. Typically, such a tip is available on 1-11 ml syringes.
• Eccentric: This cone position is characterized by a lateral location of the cone (on the side of the cylinder). This instrument (22 ml) is usually used to take blood from a vein.

Integrity

• Collapsible.
• Non-separable.

Types, purpose and prices

• Insulin

As the name suggests, they are needed for insulin injections. This instrument is distinguished by a volume of up to 1 ml, a thin short needle, markings in units, and a special piston shape. Is disposable. Price: about 150-300 rubles for 10 pcs.

• Syringe Janet

It is considered the largest (up to 150 ml in volume). It is used for suctioning liquids or washing cavities, as well as for enteral nutrition, administering solutions through a tube, etc. It is three-component. Price: 50-90 rubles per 1 piece.

• Self-locking

Purpose: carrying out mass injections, population immunization programs, diagnostic punctures, etc. Feature of the instrument: repeated use is excluded due to the design that involves blocking the piston after use and retracting the needle into the flask. This reduces the risk of accidental infection/injury and solves the problem of disposal. Price: about 10 rubles for 1 piece.

• Syringe tube

Purpose: single administration of the drug. Features: This elastic instrument already contains a dose of medication, is sterile and sealed. Every paramedic has such syringes in his first aid kit. The price depends on the drug.

• Record

Features: glass cylinder, metal needle + piston with seal, volume 1-20 ml. Purpose: reusable, sterilizable. These days it is practically not produced or used. Price: about 50-100 rub.

Purpose of the instrument: insulin administration. Used by patients with diabetes. Features: external similarity to a regular pen, thin needle, ease of medication administration, dosing mechanism, easy cartridge change. Design: body, removable needle, piston mechanism, insulin cartridge, cover. Such pens are stored at 18-26 degrees. Price: about 1800-3000 rubles per 1 piece.

• Syringe flask

Purpose: performing radiocontrast procedures. They are usually made of polymer plastic. Price: 1500-3000 rubles for 1 piece.

• Carpule syringes

Purpose: used primarily in dentistry for the administration of anesthesia. Features: reusable and single use, fine needle, ampoule. Price: 400-600 rubles for 1 piece.

Features: a tool for those who are afraid of injections. A syringe (up to 5 ml) is installed in the structure and the medicine is injected by pressing the “trigger”. Purpose: quick and painless administration of the drug (including self-administration). Price: about 400-2000 rubles per 1 piece.

• Syringe dart

Purpose: used in veterinary medicine to administer medicine to animals or temporarily euthanize them. They are used in special guns instead of cartridges. Price: 60-200 rubles and above for 1 piece.

• Syringes for infusions

Purpose: infusion of drugs into cavities, washing of tonsils, in gynecology, etc. Features: special tips, the presence of a ring like a Janet syringe, elongated head. Price: about 500-700 rubles per 1 piece.

• Glass syringe Luer type

Features: glass body, sterilizable, 2 cylinders, long piston, volume: from 2 to 100 ml. Purpose: use for punctures, internal infusions.

The most famous manufacturers of medical syringes

No medical facility is complete without syringes. For hospitals and clinics, this instrumentation is chosen based on its purpose, price and, of course, manufacturer.

The most famous syringe manufacturers in our country

• Hemoplast

One of the leading manufacturers of medical products in the CIS and Ukraine. The company produces disposable classic and insulin syringes, 2- and 3-component, conical for catheters.

• Medical Lomza

Polish highly specialized manufacturer producing medical products (needles, syringes) under the BogMark brand. He is the winner of the international competition “Syringe of the Year”. Assortment: injection syringes 1-20 ml, with and without needles, tuberculin, insulin + needles of different lengths and diameters (including needles for irrigation, mesotherapy, etc.).

• Sterin Medical Group

A domestic manufacturer that produces tools in accordance with international standards. Assortment: Luer syringes, disposable, 2- and 3-component, various designs and sizes, volume: 2-20 ml.

• Becton Dickinson (USA head office)

One of the international manufacturers of medical equipment and other medical products. Assortment: 2- and 3-component syringes of standard volume, large, self-destructing + needles.

• Terumo

A manufacturing company known throughout the world. The advantages of syringes from Terumo: ultra-sharp laser-processed needles, ideal smoothness of the needles, minimum pain, smooth piston stroke, dosage accuracy, ideal transparency of the body. Assortment: 2- and 3-component syringes, tuberculin and insulin, Luer, Luer-Lock.

• SFM. A company that has been providing services in the field of medical equipment and consumables in Russia, the CIS and other countries since 1997

Features of syringes from SFM: transparency, packaging of instruments with needles already attached, clear scale, painless use. Assortment: 3-component syringes, insulin, disposable, tuberculin, LUER LOCK, LUER SLIP.

• Covidien

Manufacturer offering a wide range of innovative surgical products, including Monoject endodontic syringes.

• Vorsma

Domestic oldest manufacturer of medical instruments/instruments. Assortment: disposable syringes, insulin, veterinary with flask, etc.

• Medpolymer

Russian manufacturer of disposable syringes, which has held a stable leading position in the domestic market for more than 10 years. Assortment: disposable syringes with needles of domestic/import production, disposable 2-component syringes, syringes with an additional scale.

• TZMOI

Tyumen manufacturer offering some of the highest quality syringes in Russia. The tools comply with Russian and international standards. Assortment: disposable syringes, Janet syringes (Luer Lock and for catheter), 3-component syringes, concentric insulin, 2-component ex- and concentric. Features: hypoallergenic materials, Japanese NIPRO needles with triple sharpening and special coating, transparent body, strong connection with the needle, clear scale, convenient packaging.

• B.Braun

One of the leaders in the international medical products market. Assortment: 10 and 20 ml syringes, Luer Lock, angiographic syringes, Angiodin syringes, Inject Duo, disposable 2-component, Omnifix Solo.

• Vogt Medical

German manufacturer from the Vogt Medical GmbH group of companies. More than 10 years on the Russian market. Assortment: disposable 2- and 3-component syringes, for injections and punctures, insulin, etc.

• Novo Nordisk

A company that has existed since 1923. Today it is a leader in the treatment of diabetes. In addition to drugs for the treatment of diabetes, it produces needles, insulin analogues and syringe pens.

A syringe is a medical instrument intended for injections, diagnostic punctures, and suction of pathological contents from cavities.

When the syringe piston is raised, if its needle is placed in a vessel with liquid, a vacuum is created between it and the surface. Liquid from the vessel rushes there because atmospheric pressure acts on it.

Description and history

Typically, a syringe is a hollow graduated cylinder with a cone on which a needle is mounted, and an open end through which a piston with a rod is inserted into the cylinder.

In the 1980s, single-use syringes (SOPs, colloquially: disposable syringes), made almost entirely of plastic except for the needle, which is still made of stainless steel, became widespread. The syringe also has a large number of slang names in the slang of drug addicts.

Syringe tubes are also used for single administration of drugs.

The origin of the syringes is almost impossible to trace. They have been known in Europe since about the 13th century, but no one has yet been able to find out where and how they were used before. They were made from a translucent bovine bladder, to which was attached a sharp thin tip made of wood or copper. An incision was made in the patient's muscle or vein with a knife, after which the tip was quickly inserted.

Despite the fact that intravenous injections have been carried out since the mid-17th century, the syringe, as we know it today, was invented only in 1853 by veterinarian Charles Gabriel Pravaz and Alexander Wood, independently of each other.

The first syringes were made from a rubber cylinder, inside of which was placed a well-fitted piston made of leather and asbestos with a metal pin sticking out. A hollow needle was fixed at the other end of the cylinder. Since the cylinder was opaque, notches for dosing the medicine were made not on it, but on the metal pin of the piston.

In 1949–1950, Arthur Smith received US patents for disposable syringes.
The first disposable syringes were mass produced by Becton, Dickinson and Company in 1954. These syringes were made of glass.

In 1956, Colin Murdoch, a pharmacist from New Zealand, invented and patented a plastic disposable syringe.

Classification and varieties

Let's start by classifying tools by their design. There are two-component and three-component syringes. Two-component ones consist only of a cylinder and a piston. In three-component ones, a third is added to these two parts - a plunger. A couple of decades ago, doctors noticed that the pain of an injection depends not only on how sharp the needle is in the syringe, but also on the smooth movement of the piston in it. The thing is that the nurse, when giving an injection, makes a noticeable effort to “push” the piston inside the cylinder. Because of this, the entire syringe moves, and so does the needle located in the human tissue. Actually, this is the cause of pain. The plunger is a rubber seal that is attached to the piston to move it smoother down the barrel of the syringe. Thus, the person giving the injection presses on the syringe with less force and the painful sensations almost disappear.

Currently, both types are used in medicine. Let's also consider the classification of syringes by number of uses. On this basis, they are divided into disposable and reusable.

Disposable syringes (SHOP - single use syringes)

They became widespread in the early 80s. They are almost entirely made of plastic, with the exception of the needle - it is made of stainless steel. For a single administration of drugs, a syringe tube (or syrette) is sometimes also used. Most often, medical disposable syringes are types of injection syringes. Let's take a closer look at them.

Regular disposable syringe

Regular disposable syringes (types whose sizes we'll look at later) are commonly used to administer a variety of injections. Its operating principle and structure have already been described above. There are types of disposable syringes with the following volumes: 2 ml, 3 ml, 5 ml, 10 ml, 20 ml and 50 ml. There are also some non-standard types, for example, a small insulin syringe or a Janet syringe with a volume of 150 ml.

Insulin syringes

These are types of syringes used to inject insulin into the patient's body. The volume of such a syringe is 1 ml. It has a thin and fairly short needle, which makes the administration of the medicine painless. Due to the fact that this medicine is almost always self-administered by patients, this fact is very important.

All types of insulin syringes are marked not only in milliliters, but also in units (units by which insulin is dosed). In all drugs existing today, 1 ml contains 100 units - no more, no less.

These syringes also have a special piston shape that ensures maximum precision when administering the medicine. A standard insulin syringe is marked in increments of 1 unit, a children's syringe is marked in 0.5 or 0.25 unit increments. Previously, 40-unit syringes were also used, but at the moment they are practically out of use.

To administer insulin, a syringe pen is also often used, since it is easier to do with it.

Although the insulin syringe is considered disposable, it can be used several times until the needle wears out.

Syringe Janet

Of all types of medical syringes, this is the largest. Its capacity is 150 ml. The Janet syringe is most often used for washing the cavities of the human body or sucking out liquids, but it can also be used for other purposes. For example, it is sometimes used when administering enemas. Can be used for intra-abdominal, intravenous or intratracheal infusions for which a conventional syringe would be too small.

Self-locking syringes

Types of disposable syringes that were designed specifically for regular large-scale population immunization programs or for any other injections in large volumes. Their peculiarity is that reuse of such a syringe is impossible and is mechanically excluded. They are designed in such a way that after the first use the piston is blocked and the syringe can only be thrown away. This is their main advantage over all other disposable types, which can actually be used more than once.

Syringe tube

Medical syringes intended for one-time administration of any drug. Such varieties are usually found in every paramedic's first aid kit. They are completely sterile and already contain the required dose of medication in a sealed container. The types of syringes, photos of which you will find under the description, do not end with disposable syringes.

Reusable syringes

It seemed that in the modern world there was simply no place for such unreliable things as reusable syringes. But no, some types are often used and are completely safe. Modern reusable syringes include the following types.

Syringe pen

With its help, people with diabetes introduce insulin into the body. This syringe got its name because of its apparent resemblance to a fountain pen.

It consists of several parts: the body itself, a cartridge (or sleeve, cartridge) with a dose of insulin, a removable needle that fits onto the tip of the cartridge, a piston trigger mechanism, a case and a cap. Just like an insulin syringe, a pen syringe has a very thin needle to make the procedure less painful. With this device, the procedures become almost invisible, which means a lot for people who inject several times a day. The difference between this device and an insulin syringe is that the operation is less labor intensive and more convenient.

The dosing mechanism of the pen syringe allows you to accurately administer the required dose of medication. It is advisable to recharge the cartridge once every few days. It only takes a few seconds to change the insulin cartridge. Some pen syringe models have a removable needle, in which case it must be changed at least once a week. In models where the needle cannot be replaced, it must be sterilized.

The pen syringe is widely used all over the world.

Carpule syringes

Despite the fact that in modern medicine disposable carpule syringes are increasingly used, they are still classified as reusable. The carpule syringe is an injection syringe and is mainly used in dentistry. Using this metal device with an ampoule and a very thin needle, anesthesia is administered during dental treatment. Sometimes it is also used to administer other medications. In 2010, the AERS-MED company patented the first disposable carpule syringes. Every year they are only gaining popularity, gradually displacing their predecessors.

Syringe gun

A device for those who are afraid of injections. The entire mechanism is designed for quick and painless administration of the medicine and is designed for independent use. Everything is very simple: a 5 ml syringe (pre-filled with medicine) is installed in the design, it is brought to the skin and the trigger is pressed. It is very important that the volume of the syringe used is exactly 5 ml, then it will hold tightly and will not fall out during the process. The inventor indicates that his mechanism makes the procedure painless and absolutely safe, that is, the needle will hit the target exactly and will not damage anything.

Syringe dart

Types of syringes that are most often used in veterinary medicine. With their help, sick animals are injected with anesthetics or any medications. Also, this type of syringe is used when hunting wild animals, or when a large animal needs to be euthanized for a while. There are special veterinary guns; instead of cartridges, they shoot darts containing sleeping pills.