The syringe is one of the most well-known medical instruments. Among other things, it is used to administer injections.
What is a syringe?
A disposable syringe is a syringe that receives sterile packaging and is used only once. With the help of a syringe, liquid medications can be administered by injection. These agents are also called injectables. In addition to administering drugs, the syringe can also be used to inject irrigation or to withdraw blood or other body fluids from the organism. The syringe is usually used together with a cannula. Syringes are classified as class IIa medical devices. In most cases, the term “syringe” is used synonymously with the term “injection”. The term syringe as a medical device only occurs with a non-prefilled and single-dose specimen.
Forms, types and kinds
Syringes are divided into different types and used according to different purposes. For example, it is important to distinguish between disposable syringes and reusable syringes. A single-use syringe is a syringe that receives sterile packaging and is used only once. Reusable syringes, on the other hand, can be used repeatedly. After use, they are cleaned and sterilized. However, multiple-use syringes are hardly needed nowadays. Thus, disposable syringes currently represent the standard of medical instruments. Another criterion of distinction is the field of application of the syringe. For example, there are insulin syringes that are specifically used by diabetics. Insulin syringes are equipped with shorter needles, since insulin is always injected under the skin. In addition, the finer needles cause less pain. Another variant is the nasal syringe. This has a rubber bulb and a tube and can be used to inject saline solutions through the nose. It can also be used to aspirate mucus from the nasal cavity. Another type of syringe is the oral syringe. It is used for the therapy of small children. Small children often do not want to take their medicine orally because it does not taste good to them. Therefore, the medicine is filled into the oral syringe and administered through the oral cavity via a coil core. A version that has a special protective device is known as a safety syringe. This prevents the patient from receiving his or her injection in the wrong place.
Structure and mode of operation
A syringe is composed of a hollow sheath in the shape of a cylinder. Inside it is a plunger called a syringe plunger. It is capable of sliding up and back down. The front part of the syringe plunger is closed by a cover plate. This runs out in the spray nozzle or a thread. Hoses, cannulas or valves can also be connected there. The rear section of the syringe is usually equipped with a plunger stop. In this way, the syringe plunger cannot slide out of the syringe. A scale is attached to the outer wall of the cylinder. This is used to read off the injection volume. Most syringes consist of two parts. As a rule, they are composed only of the syringe plunger and the barrel. However, there are also three-piece syringes, which are additionally equipped with a rubber stopper, thus enabling a better seal. Furthermore, four-piece syringes are offered, which also have a safety ring. This ring prevents the plunger from being pulled out. To use the syringe, a retracting movement of the syringe plunger causes suction at the nozzle. In this way, the inside of the instrument can be filled. To administer an injection, positive pressure is created, resulting in the plunger being pushed in. This allows the liquid inside the syringe to flow out. In principle, drugs administered by injection can have a better effect than drugs taken orally by the patient. This means that fewer of the body’s obstacles have to be bypassed on the way to the site of action. Furthermore, there are certain drugs that can only be used effectively with an injection. However, injections pose a higher risk of infection caused by bacteria.
Medical and health benefits
The first syringes came into use in Arab countries as early as the 9th century, although still in a much more primitive form. It was not until the mid-18th century that medical instruments were used regularly and were used to administer injections. In modern times, syringes of various types are among the indispensable utensils of modern medicine and fulfill a high health benefit. There is probably no other instrument that is used as frequently as the syringe. One of the most important fields of activity is vaccination. For example, numerous vaccines that prevent dangerous infectious diseases are injected with a syringe. But the instrument is also indispensable for administering various drugs, for example in emergency medicine. Before an injection can be administered, the physician fills the corresponding substance from an ampoule into the syringe by drawing it open. In addition, the air that is still inside the instrument must be squeezed out of it. For this purpose, the squirting of a small amount of the active substance out of the syringe takes place. Finally, the vaccine or drug can be administered. Syringes are also extremely valuable for diagnosis. For example, they are suitable for filling a blood sample from the patient. This is then examined in detail in a laboratory.
