Hypodermic needle: Difference between revisions

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			BALLS ARE FUN!
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	A '''hypodermic needle''' is a hollow needle commonly used with a ] to ] substances into the body. They may also be used to take liquid samples from the body, for example taking ] from a ] in ].

	A hypodermic needle is used for instant delivery of a drug, or when the injected substance cannot be ingested, either because it would not be ] (as with ]), or because it would harm the ] (as with ]). There are many possible ] for an injection.

	==Single use hypodermics==
	Virtually all current hypodermic needles and their associated ]s are designed for single use because they are hard to decontaminate and need sharpening after repeat use. Re-using or sharing needles can transmit many ]s, including ] and ]. Needles are normally used only once and disposed of in a ]. This is has been true for decades in the ], but in ], such as in most of ], needles are often reused — and sharpened and sterilized between uses. This means that such needles become a common route of infection, for ] and other diseases. The first non-African AIDS patient — and the first whose name is known — was ], a ] surgeon in a rural hospital in ] in 1976. In this hospital, throwaway needles and gloves were a fantasy: needles and gloves were reused until obviously unusable. Although she was skilled in sterile procedure, she was often splashed with blood and other body fluids and may have accidentally suffered a needle-stick injury. Her story is told in Chapter 1 of ''],'' by ].

	Single-use syringes, which have automatic mechanisms to prevent reuse, have been developed to stop the spread of disease in medical settings, examples of which include medical-personnel exposure and ].<ref></ref> One type is a pre-filled plastic blister with a hypodermic needle attached via a one-way ].<ref></ref>

	==Manufacture==
	Hypodermic needles are normally made from a stainless-steel tube drawn through progressively smaller dies to make the needle. The end is ]led to create a sharp pointed tip. This lets the needle easily penetrate the skin. When a hypodermic needle is inserted, the bevel should be facing upwards.

	==Needle gauge==
	The diameter of the needle is indicated by the needle ]. Various needle lengths are available for any given gauge. There are a number of systems for gauging needles, including the ], and the ]. Needles in common medical use range from 7 gauge (the largest) to 33 (the smallest) on the Stubs scale. Twenty-one-gauge needles are most commonly used for drawing blood for testing purposes, and sixteen- or seventeen-gauge needles are most commonly used for blood donation, as they are large enough to allow red blood cells to pass through the needle without rupturing (this also allows more blood to be collected in a shorter amount of time). Smaller-gauge needles will rupture the red blood cells, and if this occurs, the blood is useless for the patient that is receiving it. Although reusable needles remain useful for some scientific applications, disposable needles are far more common in medicine. Disposable needles are embedded in a plastic or aluminium hub that attaches to the syringe barrel by means of a press-fit (]) or twist-on (Luer-Lok™) fitting.

	== Non-specialist use ==
	Hypodermic needles are usually used by medical professionals — physicians, nurses, paramedics — but they are sometimes used by patients themselves. This is most common with ], who may require several ] injections a day. It also occurs with patients who have ] or other severe ]. Such patients may need to take ] injections; or they may need to carry injectable medicines to use for first aid in case of a severe allergic reaction. Such patients often carry a syringe loaded with ] (e.g. ]); some also carry syringes loaded with ] and ]. The rapid injection of these drugs may stop a severe allergic reaction, prevent ], and make an ] trip unnecessary, although it may be disconcerting to spectators. Hypodermic needles are also used illicitly in ], for this reason it is illegal in many jurisdictions to possess used or unused needles without an approved medical reason.

	== Industrial use ==
	Disposable plastic syringes equipped with unbeveled blunt-tip Luer-Lok™ or Luer-Slip™ needles are often used in industry to apply precise amounts of lubricants, adhesives, and various other liquids and pastes.

	== Phobia ==
	{{main\|Trypanophobia}}
	It is estimated that about 10% of the adult population may have a ] of needles (trypanophobia), and it is much more common in children.{{Fact\|date=June 2008}} There is some basis for this phobia, because not all medical personnel have the necessary skill with hypodermic needles. This is particularly with ] uses, where incorrect insertion may easily damage the ]. It is not unusual for a nurse or doctor to take several tries to start an IV; a dozen tries is not unknown. Typically, a large hospital has one "deadeye" — usually, a ] ] — who can put needles in tiny or contracted veins, but this person is not always available.{{Fact\|date=June 2008}}

	== See also ==
	* ]
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	== References ==
	{{reflist}}
	* at ].

	==External links==
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Revision as of 16:19, 15 August 2008

BALLS ARE FUN!