The anatomy of the needle
The sharpened angular tip at the end of the needle. There are typically four types of bevels used for skin injections.
Made of stainless steel, which is siliconized to allow easier penetration, thus minimizing patient discomfort. Available in different lengths and gauges to suit individual clinical and patient needs.
Regular bevel
The most common bevel, used for a vast majority of applications. Typically used for intramuscular and subcutaneous injections.
Short bevel
The needlepoint geometry is designed to minimize unwanted injection depth, such as penetration through a vessel wall, and to obtain rapid withdrawal or dispersion of a fluid. Typically used for specialty applications such as arterial blood gas sampling and nerve blocks.
Intradermal bevel
The geometry of the tip is designed to allow for shallow and low angle insertion of the needle just below the epidermis. The fluid volume is typically very small and slowly administered. This unique needle bevel is used primarily for skin testing (e.g., allergy tests).
5-bevel
The two additional bevels create a flatter, thinner surface that has been shown to be less painful.*
