- Disposable
- Safety syringes
- Injection pens
- Needleless injectors
- Oral
- Dental
- Multi-shot
Disposable
The world of medicine underwent a dramatic transformation when hygiene became a non-negotiable element. From latex gloves to disposable equipment, the spread of diseases was largely contained.
Even today, disposable syringes play a significant role in controlling the spread of disease and aiding treatment. When medical professionals have to treat many people, they need to pay close attention to their equipment. If a regular glass syringe is used, the risk of spreading the disease multiplies. Similarly, the same risk is posed if a disposable one is reused. Essentially, the purpose of a disposable one is to maintain hygiene.
The hard plastic is easily available at a highly affordable price. But if you’re concerned about the environmental waste plastic would create, you can reuse your syringe. Often diabetic persons tend to use the same syringe since there is a lower risk of spreading illnesses. However, ensure all other equipment it comes in contact with is kept tidy and sterile.
Safety
When contracting contagious diseases, the people most at risk are treating them. Healthcare workers are the most-exposed persons in case of an outbreak. Unlike the common folk, they can’t isolate themselves from affected patients. So the introduction of surgical equipment that considers their safety was revolutionary.
At first glance, safety syringes may seem identical to disposable ones. However, subtle distinctions could bridge the gap between life and death. For instance, you could opt for a blunt-fill syringe instead of a conventional one. Typically, health workers use the former when transferring medicine from IV bags or vials.
Other than that, retractable needles are the most celebrated safety syringes. The tip retracts back into the syringe when the injection is not in use. Therefore, drastically reducing the risk of any accidents. Similarly, a guard protects you from mishaps while ensuring it remains disinfected.
Injection pens
Growing up, most of us dreaded going to the doctor because we feared getting an injection. Unsurprisingly, the look of a syringe births panic in most children and adults. But that’s not all! The conventional syringe also tends to be quite delicate. So you’ve to ensure it’s held at the right angle and isn’t put under a lot of weight. Keeping in mind the shortcomings we’ve discussed, the injector pen was introduced in the late 80s.
An injector pen aims to make injecting medicine more convenient and less risky. It’s far easier to carry without the constant worry of breaking the tip. You may not realize it, but you’ve probably already seen injector pens. The design is most commonly used in EpiPens. If you’ve got a loved one allergic to a particular food, you may have seen them carry it in their bags.
In moments of urgency, the injector pen works tremendously. You might struggle to find the right angle or inject it at the wrong place with a conventional syringe. But with an injector pen, the likelihood of missing the spot is reduced significantly.
Needleless injectors
With steady technological development, multiple ways have become available to approach a problem. Innovation is always a driving force in any field of science. But we doubt you would have thought of a syringe without a needle.
The needleless injector replaces the traditional one with a high-pressure stream jet. Where the tip punctures your skin to inject the medicine, a needleless injector uses pressure to release the drug. With no puncture mark, your skin holds no physical evidence of getting an injection. Needleless injectors combine the laws of pressure defined by nature and an undying spirit to outperform our creations. It adopts a relatively pain-free method that has proven more successful with patients.
Oral
When you hear the word syringe, your first instinct is to revisit your childhood memories of running away from the doctor’s office. But soon, you realize syringe is a much broader term that isn’t always used to mean needles. For instance, an oral syringe has no sharp tip in sight. Instead, it has a wide opening that allows oral medicine to be measured more accurately.
You may have already seen it being used to feed birds and kittens. The wide opening allows for a much more precise way to intake liquids. So the next time you take oral medicine, try using an oral syringe instead of the traditional teaspoon.
Dental
If there’s one thing we dread more than the sight of a sharp needle, it’s scheduling a meeting with your dentist. A dentist clinic’s cold and uninviting ambiance is enough to scare away a grown adult. But the fear becomes much worse once you’re on the dental chair and your gaze falls on the surgical equipment.
A dental syringe looks like a torture device from the Victorian era. However, it’s a device that greatly aids your dental experience. The quirky design is what catches your attention. The thumb rings on either side ensure the device doesn’t slip out of your hand and provides an overall better grip. It’s commonly used to inject anesthesia into the patient’s gums so that a painless procedure can be carried out.
Unless you’re a dentist, you won’t have to bear the sight of a dental syringe other than on your annual checkup.
Multi-shot
When you’re administering multiple doses, refilling the syringe can become a hassle. And if you’re under a time-strict condition, you may find the entire ordeal unnecessary. For any occasion, the multi-shot is the ideal companion. Unlike the traditional one, the multi-shot design has a built-in reservoir that can hold multiple doses.
The traditional syringe might save time in delivering doses. Still, there’s a reason a multi-shot one is relatively unheard of. It’s deemed harmful by medical professionals because it increases the risk of cross-contamination when the same one is used for multiple people. Therefore, we suggest this type only if you plan to use it for a specific person.
Subcutaneous injection
The needle size is of utmost importance when injecting medicine under the skin. To avoid any confusion on the matter, refer to the table below:
| Age | Gauge and Length | Injection Site |
| All ages | 23-25-gauge 5/8 inch (16mm) | Thigh for infants younger than 12 months of age; upper outer triceps area for persons 12 months of age and older. |
Intramuscular
With additional factors like age, gender, and weight, picking the right needle size become more complicated. We’ve curated all the necessary items in a single table to make it easier. Refer to the table below before you make the decision:
| Age | Gauge and Length | Injection Site |
| Neonate, 28 days and younger | 22-25 gauge 5/8 inch (16mm2) | Vastus lateralis muscle of anterolateral thigh |
| Infants, 1-12 months | 22–25-gauge 1 inch (25 mm) | Vastus lateralis muscle of anterolateral thigh |
| Toddlers, 1-2 years | 22–25-gauge 1–1.25 inches (25–32 mm) | Vastus lateralis muscle of anterolateral thigh |
| Toddlers, 1-2 years | 22–25-gauge 5/82–1 inch (16–25 mm) | Deltoid muscle of arm |
| Children 3-10 years | 22–25-gauge 5/82–1 inch (16–25 mm) | Deltoid muscle of arm |
| Children 3-10 years | 22–25-gauge 1–1.25 inches (25–32 mm) | Vastus lateralis muscle of anterolateral thigh |
| Children, 11-18 years | 22–25-gauge 5/82–1 inch (16–25 mm) | Deltoid muscle of arm |
| Adults, 19 years and older 130 lbs (60 kg) or less 130–152 lbs (60–70 kg) Men, 152–260 lbs (70–118 kg) Women, 152–200 lbs (70–90 kg) Men, 260 lbs (118 kg) or more Women, 200 lbs (90 kg) or more | 22–25-gauge 1 inch (25 mm4) 1 inch (25 mm) 1–1.5 inches (25–38 mm) 1–1.5 inches (25–38 mm) 1.5 inches (38 mm) 1.5 inches (38 mm) | Deltoid muscle of arm |
For testosterone
When selecting the right size, there are multiple factors you need to consider. However, the most important factor is the viscosity of the medicine. The thicker a medicine solution is, the smaller gauge reading you need to plunge the syringe into the skin properly.
When preparing a testosterone injection, you’ll need to go for slightly thicker tips. The medication is quite dense compared to specific drugs, so a syringe that can efficiently inject the hormone into the system is required. More specifically, a 20 or 21-gauge is used. However, you may even use a 23 or 25-gauge tip if your certain medication is less dense.
With a smaller-gauge, the tissue scarring is greatly reduced. However, they are required to be more carefully administered. But with greater precision and accuracy, it won’t feel like too much work after a while.
