A hypodermic syringe is a type of syringe used to give injections under the skin. Find our answers to your questions about hypodermic syringes.

A hypodermic syringe is a syringe used to give a subcutaneous injection (hypodermia meaning under the dermis). The hypodermic syringe or hypodermic syringe has an extremely fine needle capable of passing through the skin. The drug diffuses slowly.

Composition

A hypodermic syringe includes a body, a plunger, and a plunger seal.

The syringe body and plunger are made of polypropylene (PP). These 3-piece syringes are sold with or without the needle of a hypodermic syringe, which is made of stainless steel and is approximately 0,45 mm in diameter for a length of 1,5 cm.

Each year, at least 16 billion injections are administered worldwide, the vast majority (about 90%) for therapeutic purposes (to cure). Injections can be given intramuscularly, subcutaneously or intradermally. The subcutaneous injection is done with a hypodermic syringe and is carried out for vaccinations, the injection of heparin (an anti-coagulant), insulin or morphine for example.

Public concerned or at risk

Most often, it is healthcare professionals who perform subcutaneous injections with a hypodermic syringe. In some, you may need to inject yourself with a hypodermic syringe (this is particularly the case for people with diabetes who need to inject insulin).

A hypodermic syringe is used to make a subcutaneous injection on the outer face of the arm, the outer face of the thigh, the abdominal region: from 15 cm from the navel, over and under spinous region of the scapula, upper quarter -external buttock.

The stages of operation

The doctor begins by holding the skin between the thumb and forefinger, to make a skin fold, then he slowly injects the product, according to the indications of the drug. He then removes the needle by lightly compressing the injection site with a swab soaked in disinfectant.

When to use it?

The hypodermic syringe is used to give subcutaneous injections when you need certain vaccines such as BCG or a medicine given by injection (such as heparin, insulin).

People with diabetes can self-inject insulin under the skin.

Precautions to take

Subcutaneous injection with a hypodermic syringe is usually risk free. It is possible to present a localized pain, a hematoma.

Origins of the hypodermic syringe

The hypodermic syringe as we know it was invented in 1841. In France, Charles Pravaz and, in England, Alexander Wood (in 1850), developed the hollow needle, thus perfecting an experimental model developed at the beginning of the century. XNUMXth century by the French surgeon Anel.

The different models

There are different models of hypodermic syringes:

• self-locking hypodermic syringes for fixed dose vaccination: these are syringes that deliver a fixed dose, most of which have a non-removable needle, and all of which have a mechanism that blocks the syringe and prevents it from being reused a second time ;
• hypodermic syringes with device preventing reuse: these are syringes that can have variable doses, have a removable needle and a mechanism that blocks the syringe and prevents it from being reused a second time. There are two types: those which allow a single aspiration and injection and those which allow multiple aspirations (for example when several drugs must be mixed in the same syringe);
• sterile hypodermic syringes with puncture protection device: this material with puncture injury protection includes auto-disable syringes and syringes with a re-use prevention mechanism that have an additional device preventing puncture wounds, for example a means of covering the infected perforator after use.

Hypodermic syringes are available in several formats: from 2 to 10ml, or even 20ml.