Medical equipment is vital in healthcare to ensure that patients get the required treatments safely and skillfully by using it. Two major tools in healthcare are a hypodermic syringe and an IV administration set. Both these devices are essential to administer medications and fluids.
Understand the essentials of these tools and components focusing on their functionality, types, and parts below.
What is a hypodermic syringe?
This is a tool to distribute medical substances by entering the body. It contains a thin and sharp needle and is an easy and safe option for a fast delivery process. Hypodermic syringe’s accuracy and benefits are crucial in many medical courses of action with simple mechanical principles.
How does a hypodermic syringe work?
A barrel, needle, plunger, hub, and luer lock or slip lock are the tools that structure the hypodermic syringe.
- Barrel is a cylindrical body holding the fluid. It is transparent and allows the user to see the liquid inside.
- Plunger is a pistol-like component that fits snugly inside the barrel. It is used to draw in or expel the fluid.
- A needle is a thin tube that penetrates the skin. It can vary in length and gauge.
- Hub is the part where the needle attaches to the barrel to secure connection.
- Luer lock is the end of the barrel where the needle attaches. Luer tips screw on for a secure fit, whereas slip tips simply push on.
How to use a hypodermic syringe?
- Connect the needle tip with the hypodermic syringe through a luer lock.
- Make sure the plunger is pushed forward as the correct substance has to be drawn and no air should enter the syringe.
- Insert the needle and syringe into the fluid substance or directly into the patient if blood is taken.
- Pull back the syringe plunger slowly and carefully to extract blood or fill the syringe with fluid.
- Put the syringe into the patient at a 45 to 90-degree angle in the correct zone, and slowly and carefully push the plunger forward to supply fluid.
- Dump the needle and syringe appropriately.
What is the IV administration set?
IV administration sets are also called Infusion sets. They are the medical devices used to maintain hydration, correct dehydration, and parenteral nutrition, administer drugs, and transfusion of components of blood.
The IV administration set parts generally contains a spike, a tube, a roller clamp, a needle, a connector, an injection site, a drip chamber, an air vent, and a solution filter. The use of IV sets gives a controlled and accurate way to administer medication to patients, quickly correct electrolyte imbalance, and hydrate the patient again with vital fluids.
Different types of IV administration
IV sets are used for intravenous therapy including tubing and the needle. The type of IV set depends on the type of fluid you need to manage and also the viscosity and flow rate.
Several types of IV sets are used in hospitals and other medical settings, including
- Filtered IV set
A filtered IV set has a filter in the tubing to prevent any foreign matter from entering the bloodstream. It is important to ensure that the patient receives only sterile solutions through their IV. Filtered IV sets are mainly used when there is a risk of infection or contamination. Filtered IV sets remove particles of any size, from tiny to large.
- Vented IV sets
There is a little blue hole in the side of vented IV sets. The lid can be opened and closed by the medical staff to let air in, displacing the fluid as it exits. These IV kits are stored in rigid plastic or fluid proof glass containers.
A fluid contained in a hard container does not escape unless the container is equipped with some sort of air release mechanism. The air intake vent is often installed on the drip chamber during manufacturing.
Two forces work on the fluid in the vented IV set, allowing flow, which are the pull of gravity, and the air pressure created by air passing through the vent. The fluid is pushed downward by gravity and the air pressure from the vented IV set.
Gravity increases when you raise a bag or container of fluid that causes the fluid to flow more quickly. When medical staff lower the bag or bottle of liquids, the opposite works.
- Non vented IV set
The non-vented IV administration set parts do not include a removable air vent. This set is required for use with flexible plastic containers. The tubing must be filled with IV fluid to eliminate the presence of air before attaching the non-vented set to a patient. After the IV bag empties, the tubing produces a vacuum, causing the bag to collapse.
The non-vented sets rely on two forces acting on the fluid to allow it to flow –
- The force of gravity
- The pressure generated by the fluid’s container when it collapses
The collapsing force is not present in fixed fluid containers like bottles and plastic tubing. This causes stagnation in the fluid. Releasing the bottle or other stationary fluid container allows air to enter, activating the fluid to flow.
- Gravity tubing
It is the most common type of IV set used in hospitals today. It contains a plastic bag hung from a pole or hook, which holds it in place at a certain height above the patient’s bed.
The fluid is pushed through the tube into the patient’s bloodstream by gravity’s force. Gravity tubing is used to deliver fluids and medications that do not need to be administered quickly because gravity will help move them from the bag down into the patient’s vein at a slow but steady rate.
Parts of IV administration set
The IV set typically consists of various components like IV tubing, drip chambers, luer connector, roller clamp, flow regulator, hypodermic syringe, injection port, infusion pumps, fluid filter, macro drip, and connectors.
Conclusion
Hypodermic syringe and IV administration sets are the foundation of modern medical practice. Their precise design and reliable functionality are vital to deliver fluid effectively. By familiarizing with these components, we can better appreciate their role in healthcare and ensure their optimal use.
