What Is a Hypodermic Needle?

The thought of a hypodermic needle may make you squirm, but without this simple invention, much of today's medicine would not work as efficiently. The hypodermic needle has gone though quite a few changes since its first recorded use in the 17th century. Although hypodermic needles are usually thought of as an instrument to give injections, it can also be used as an aspirator or to give injections under the skin or directly into the vein.

Definition

• A hypodermic needle is simply a hollow needle connected to a tube with a syringe. From this simple design are dozens of variations used for different medical procedures. The root "hypo" is defined as "beneath" or "under," and "dermic" describes skin, so "hypodermic" means "beneath the skin."

History

• Injecting substances into the body may go back thousands of years, but intravenous, or into the vein, injections are a relatively modern concept. Although use of intravenous injections were recorded in the 1600s, it wasn't until 1853 that the first contemporary hypodermic needle was conceived. These first needles were large and the injections painful, but in the early 1960s the first disposable needle was introduced. Not in common usage until the 1970s, these disposable needles were smaller and caused less pain.

Types

• There are many types of hypodermic needles, each appropriate for a different task, and the size of the needle is measured in gauges. The most commonly known to non-medical people is the 23 or 25 gauge disposable needle most often used in injections. Diabetics often use this type to inject insulin. Other types of hypodermic needles are used in aspiration or irrigation and vary in length and gauge.

Uses

• Hypodermic needles are used for injections both beneath the skin and directly into the vein. They can also be used to aspirate liquids from the body. Hypodermics are also used in cataract removal and cleaning deep wounds.
  The most controversial use of hypodermic needles is in drug abuse. Because injections into the vein is an efficient way to deliver drugs to the blood system, it was quickly adapted for the abuse of opium. However, sharing a needle is also an efficient way to spread disease. Malaria was the fist known disease spread by hypodermic needles and today the spread of HIV is a major problem among drug users.

Regulation

• Government regulation of hypodermic needles is governed by each state and the laws vary greatly. Most state require a doctor's prescription to acquire needles, but this is hotly contested by groups trying to contain the spread of HIV by needle sharing. Many states list an unprescribed hypodermic needle as illegal drug paraphernalia and possession is punishable.