Hypodermic Needles
Hypodermic needle tubing is hollow, cylindrical tubing used as equipment components or as a medium through which fluids pass. Hypodermic needles are usually made from stainless steel tubing. These needles are classified by their outer diameter and wall thickness, also known as the gage size. A hypodermic needle is a type of needle commonly used with a syringe to inject substances or take substances from the body.
Hypodermic needle tubing is constructed through welding or seamless tubing procedures. Welding involves roll forming stainless steel and connecting the formed portions along a seam through fusion. Seamless tubing, in comparison, involves the creation of stainless steel tubing by piercing a round blank. Welding achieves a higher degree of precision without secondary operations, although the degree of precision required depends on the particular industrial application. Metal spinning is a "cold worked" metal fabrication technique which is similar to a potter forming clay, except that a metal spinner uses a flat round disc of sheet metal which is rotating on a spinning lathe. The metal spinning process is limited, however, to the making of concentric shapes such as tubes.
Applications for hypodermic needle tubing are found in the medical, dental, automotive, petrochemical, and semiconductor industries. Hypodermic needle tubing is used in applications ranging from medical instruments and dental implants to hydraulic systems, fuel lines, and engine conduits. Most hypodermic needles are designed for single use because they are hard to decontaminate and need sharpening after repeat use.