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The hypodermic syringe, also known as the hypodermic needle, is a device used by medical professionals
to transfer liquids into or out of the body. It is made up of a hollow needle, which is attached to a tube and a
plunger (/knowledge/Plunger.html). When the plunger handle is pulled back, fluids are drawn into the tube.
The fluid is forced out through the needle when the handle is pushed down. The syringe was introduced in
the mid 1800s and has steadily improved with the development of new materials and designs. Today, it has
become such an important medical tool that it is nearly a symbol synonymous with the practicing physician.

History
Since the advent of pharmaceutical drugs, methods for administering those drugs have been sought.
Various important developments needed to occur before injections through a hypodermic syringe could be
conceived. Early nineteenth century physicians were not aware that drugs could be introduced into the body
through the skin. One early experiment that demonstrated this idea, however, was performed by Francois
Magendie (/knowledge/Fran_ois_Magendie.html) in 1809. In his published work, he outlined a method for
introducing strychnine (/knowledge/Strychnine.html) into a dog by using a coated wooden barb. In 1825, A.
J. Lesieur described another method for administering drugs through the skin, applying them directly to
blisters on the skin. Expanding on results from these experiments, G. V. Lafargue developed a procedure
for introducing morphine (/knowledge/Morphine.html) under the skin using a lancet. A drip needle was
invented by F. Rynd in 1844 for the same purpose. However, he did not publish his method until 1861, eight
years after the first hypodermic syringe was described.

The first true hypodermic syringe was created by Alexander Wood in 1853. He modified a regular syringe,
which at that time was used for treating birthmarks, by adding a needle. He then used this new device for
introducing morphine into the skin of patients who suffered from sleeping disorders. A few years later, he
added a graduated scale on the barrel and a finer needle. These modifications were enough to attract the
attention of the rest of the medical community, resulting in its more widespread use.

Over the years hypodermic syringes have undergone significant changes that have made them more
efficient, more useful, and safer. One such improvement was the incorporation of a glass piston within the
cylinder. This innovation prevented leaks and reduced the chances of infections, making the device more reliable. The technology for
the mass production of hypodermic syringes was developed in the late nineteenth century. As plastics developed, they were
incorporated into the design, reducing cost and further improving safety.

Background
The way in which a hypodermic needle works is simple. Fluid, such as a drug or blood, is drawn up through a hollow needle into the
main tube when the plunger handle is pulled back. As long as the needle tip remains in the fluid while the plunger handle is pulled, air
will not enter. The user can determine exactly how much material is in the tube by reading the measuring marks on the side of the tube.
The liquid is dispensed out through the needle when the plunger handle is pushed back down.

The term hypodermic syringe comes from the Greek words hypo, meaning under, and derma, meaning skin. These terms are
appropriate because they describe exactly how the device functions. The needle is used to pierce the top layer of the skin, and the
material in the tube is injected in the layer below. In this subcutaneous layer, most injected materials will be readily accepted into the
bloodstream and then circulated throughout the body.

A syringe is one of three primary methods for introducing a drug into the body. The others are transepidermal (through the skin) and
oral. Using a hypodermic needle as the method of drug administration has some significant advantages over oral ingestion. First, the
drugs are protected from the digestive system. This prevents them from being chemically altered or broken down before they can be
effective. Second, since the active compounds are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, they begin working faster. Finally, it is more
difficult for the body to reject drugs that are administered by syringe. Transepidermal drug administration is a relatively new technology,
and its effects are generally not as immediate as direct injection.

Design
There are many hypodermic syringe designs available. However, all of them have the same general features, including a barrel,
plunger, needle, and cap. The barrel is the part of the hypodermic needle that contains the material that is injected or withdrawn. A
movable plunger is contained within this tube. The width of the barrel is variable. Some manufacturers make short, wide tubes, and

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others make long, thin ones. The exact design will depend to some extent on how the device will be used. The end of the barrel to
which the needle is attached is tapered. This ensures that only the desired amount of material will be dispensed through the needle. At
the base of the barrel away from the needle attachment, two arms flare out. These pieces allow the needle user to press on the plunger
with the thumb while holding the tube in place with two fingers. The other end of the barrel is tapered.

The plunger, which is responsible for creating the vacuum to draw up materials and then discharge them, is made of a long, straight
piece with a handle at one end and a rubber plunger head on the other. The rubber head fits snugly against the walls of the barrel,
making an airtight seal. In addition to ensuring an accurate amount of material is drawn in, the squeegee action of the plunger head
keeps materials off the inner walls of the tube.

The needle is the part of the device that actually pierces the layers of the skin. Depending on how deep the injection or fluid extraction
will be, the needle orifice can be thinner or wider, and its length varies. It can also be permanently affixed to the body of the syringe or
interchangeable. For the latter type of system, a variety of needles would be available to use for different applications. To prevent
accidental needle stick injuries, a protective cap is placed over the top of the needle when it is not in use.

Raw Materials
Since hypodermic syringes come in direct contact with the interior of the body, government regulations require that they be made from
biocompatible materials which are pharmacologically (/knowledge/Pharmacology.html) inert. Additionally, they must be sterilizable and
nontoxic. Many different types of materials are used to construct the wide variety of hypodermic needles available. The needles are
generally made of a heat-treatable stainless steel or carbon steel. To prevent corrosion, many are nickel plated. Depending on the style
of device used, the main body of the tube can be made of plastic, glass, or both. Plastics are also used to make the plunger handle and
flexible synthetic rubber for the plunger head.

The Manufacturing
Process
There are many manufacturers of hypodermic needles, and while each one uses a slightly different process for production, the basic
steps remain the same, including needle formation, plastic component molding, piece assembly, packaging, labeling, and shipping.

Making the needle

1 The needle is produced from steel, which is first heated until it is molten and then drawn through a die designed to meet the size
requirements of the needle. As it moves along the production
line, the steel is further formed and rolled into a continuous,
hollow wire. The wire is appropriately cut to form the needle.
Some needles are significantly more complex and are
produced directly from a die casting. Other metal
components on the needle are also produced in this manner.

Making the barrel and plunger

2 There are various ways that the syringe tube can be
fashioned, depending on the design needed and the raw
materials used. One method of production is extrusion
(/knowledge/Extrusion.html) molding. The plastic or glass is
supplied as granules or powder and is fed into a large
hopper. The extrusion process involves a large spiral screw,
which forces the material through a heated chamber and
makes it a thick, flowing mass. It is then forced through a die,
producing a continuous tube that is cooled and cut.
3 For pieces that have more complex shapes like the ends,
the plunger, or the safety caps, injection molding is used. In
this process the plastic is heated, converting it into a liquid. It
is then forcibly injected into a mold that is the inverse of the Diagram of a hypodermic syringe. Retraction (/knowledge/Retraction.html) of
the plunger creates the vacuum to draw up materials, which can then be
desired shape. After it cools, it solidifies and maintains its
discharged by pushing on the plunger. Its rubber head makes an airtight seal
shape after the die is opened. Although the head of the against the walls of the barrel.
plunger is rubber, it can also be manufactured by injection
molding. Later, the head of the plunger is attached to the plunger handle.

Assembly and packaging

4 When all of the component pieces are available, final assembly can occur. As the tubes travel down a conveyor, the plunger is
inserted and held into place. The ends that cap the tube are affixed. Graduation markings may also be printed on the main tube
body at this point in the manufacturing process. The machines that print these markings are specially calibrated to ensure they
print measurements on accurately. Depending on the design, the needle can also be attached at this time, along with the safety
cap.
5 After all of the components are in place and printing is complete, the hypodermic syringes are put into appropriate packaging.
Since sterility of the device is imperative, steps are taken to ensure they are free from disease-causing agents. They are typically
packaged individually in airtight plastic. Groups of syringes are packed into boxes, stacked on pallets, and shipped to distributors.

Quality Control

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The quality of the components of these devices are checked during each phase of manufacture. Since thousands of parts are made
daily, complete inspection is impossible. Consequently, line inspectors randomly check components at fixed time intervals to ensure
they meet size, shape, and consistency specifications. These random samples give a good indication of the quality of the hypodermic
syringe produced. Visual inspection is the primary test method. However, more rigorous measurements are also performed. Measuring
equipment is used to check the length, width, and thickness of the component pieces. Typically, devices such as a vernier caliper, a
micrometer, or a microscope (/knowledge/Microscope.html) are used. Each of these differ in accuracy and application. In addition to
specific tests, line inspectors are stationed at various points of the production process and visually inspect the components as they are
made. They check for things such as deformed needles or tubes, pieces that fit together incorrectly, or inappropriate packaging.

Hypodermic syringe production is strictly controlled by the United States government, specifically the Food and Drug Administration
(/knowledge/Food_and_Drug_Administration.html) (FDA). They have compiled a list of specifications to which every manufacturer must
comply. They perform inspections of each of these companies to ensure that they are following good manufacturing practices, handling
complaints appropriately, and keeping adequate records related to design and production. Additionally, individual manufacturers have
their own product requirements.

The Future
Since Alexander Wood introduced the first device, hypodermic syringe technology has greatly improved. Future research will focus on
designing better devices that will be safer, more durable, more reliable, and less expensive to produce. Also, improvements in device
manufacture will also continue. One example of this is the trend toward utilizing materials such as metals and plastics that have
undergone a minimum of processing from their normal state. This should minimize waste, increase production speed, and reduce costs.

Where to Learn More

Books
Chicka, C. and Anthony Chimpa. Diabetic's Jet Ejectors. Diabetic Gun for Personal Insulin Injection. H.W. Parker, 1989.

Trissel, Lawrence. Pocket Guide to Injectable Drugs: Companion to Handbook of Injectable Drugs. American Society of Health-System
Pharmacists, 1994.

Perry Romanowski

DFMPro Software
Learn How to Design for Manufacturing Reduce Rework and Mfg cost by 30%!

Also read article about Syringe (/knowledge/Syringe.html) from Wikipedia

User Contributions:
1
alipo (mailto:alipo_gachala [at] yahoo [dot] com)
(/Volume-3/Syringe.html#Comments 1)

i wanted to know where one can get the machines for manufacturing syringes.

2
refaa ramzy
(/Volume-3/Syringe.html#Comments 2)

i want to make a plastic syringe manufacture

i want to know
how and how much
thank u

3
seenu
(/Volume-3/Syringe.html#Comments 3)

dear sir, i am interesting to know the mfg syringe process and medical device histry pl, send us this above and other tips for mfg
technic in syringe and iv cannula
CS

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