The History of the Invention of Syringes and Needles

In medical literature, the origin of the syringe dates back to the early years of the industrial revolution. Since then, syringes have been made from various materials including metal, glass, even gold, and more recently, silicone…

How Did Syringes and Needles Come to Be?

Syringes were invented long before the advent of subcutaneous needles. The origin of the syringe has been recorded in Greek and Roman history, where it was used in anointing ceremonies or by ancient people who used a piston to alter the pitch in certain musical instruments.

A simple piston syringe for applying creams and ointments was described in medical texts by Galen (129-200 AD).

Syringes were invented long before subcutaneous needles.

In 1650, Pascal’s hydraulic experiments inspired Christopher Wren to invent the first modern syringe that allowed for drug administration. He used a technique of moderation to inject opium resin into the veins of dogs through a syringe made from goose quills.

By 1660, doctors Major and Esholttz used a similar method to inject humans, but their lack of dosage calculation and sterilization resulted in fatal consequences. This incident delayed the use of injectable medications for another 200 years.

The first subcutaneous needle was created by Francis Rynd in 1844 in Dublin, Ireland, and was made of steel.

A syringe typically consists of three parts: the barrel (made of glass, plastic, or metal), the cylinder, and the piston which can be made of rubber, metal, or synthetic materials. In the early days of syringes, bandages were used to prevent leakage from the syringe.

Charles Pravaz in France injected a coagulant into sheep in 1853. Alexander Wood in Edinburgh, Scotland combined the syringe with a subcutaneous needle in the same year to inject morphine into people.

Since then, the basic design of the syringe has remained unchanged. The introduction of plastics led to the widespread use of disposable syringes from the mid-1950s onwards.

The Shapes of Different Specialized Needles

For each type of illness or specific purpose, needles are designed differently. In the past, needles were even made of gold to ensure sterility. Spinal needles or needles used for hemorrhoid patients differ from standard needles.

Figure 1 – Three generations of needles.

Figure 1 shows three generations of needles. At the top left is a disposable needle from the 1950s with varying lengths and sizes. At the top right is a small needle currently in widespread use, featuring a color-coded plastic shaft. Below is a double-ended screw needle from the 1930s used for refilling ink for pens.

Figure 2. Sterile needle made of gold from the early 20th century.

In Figure 2, the needle has a bulbous shaft directly attached to rubber. This needle is used to evacuate air from the pleural cavity to treat pneumothorax.

The Hamilton Bailey transfusion needle set, which includes eight needles made of gold for sterilization, has a slot for supporting tape.

Figure 3. Suction needle with a sharp tip for easier penetration through the skin.

Figure 4. Gord infusion needle.

In Figure 4, the Gord infusion needle is equipped with a removable rubber membrane for easier intravenous injections. This type of needle was used for many years until the “butterfly needle” became available in 1960.

Figure 5. Needle for measuring pressure and examining spinal fluid.

Figure 5 shows a set of needles used in the 1930s for measuring pressure and examining spinal fluid.

Figure 6. Needle used for hemorrhoid treatment.

In Figure 6, the needle designed for hemorrhoid patients is intended to prevent deep penetration during injection. The safety lock ensures that the necessary pressure is applied without dropping the syringe.

Figure 7. Syringe and needle case popular from 1920 to 1950.

In Figure 7, the syringes popular from 1920 to 1950 often became dull after repeated use. Due to inadequate cleaning and sterilization, in some cases, the syringe became infected, leading to cellulitis and abscesses. Back then, sharpening devices for needles were even used, as shown in Figure 8.

Figure 8. Needle sharpening device.

Diverse Syringes and Specialized Injection Kits

Figure 9. Portable syringe kit.

In Figure 9, the portable syringe kit patented around 1910 contains a standard amount of a soluble formulation for injection after dilution in distilled water.

Much later, pharmaceutical manufacturers began to formulate sterile injectable medications contained in sealed glass vials.

Figure 10. Anesthetic syringe kit.

In Figure 10, the anesthetic syringe kit is widely used by general practitioners and specialists.

Figure 11. Old syringe from 1875.

Figure 12 – Figure 13 – Figure 14.

There are various types of syringes made from glass to metal, but the Rekordsprize syringe set introduced by Dewitt and Hertz manufacturers in Berlin in 1906 (Figure 12) stands out for its reliability, non-leakage, non-jamming, and easy disassembly for sterilization.

This model remained in use until the advent of plastic syringes.

This design has been produced by many companies worldwide with slight variations. In Figure 13, the glass syringe is popular but more prone to jamming and leaking. Figure 14 shows a small box-type syringe widely used by dentists and is often an essential tool in emergency kits.

Figure 15.

In Figure 15, the probe has a copper casing and a thick metal syringe with a secure screw lock to maintain heat, allowing the injection of melted paraffin wax for specimen sampling in histopathology.

Figure 16.

Another unusual syringe is the AGLA Micromet syringe kit illustrated in Figure 16. This syringe is designed to analyze the dilution concentration of biological solution components, requiring precise concentration measurements. The accompanying guide indicates that this syringe kit is specifically used in research and immunological assessments where sequential dilution is very important.

Syringes and needles are regularly sterilized in sets, either by simple boiling or in clinics and hospitals where autoclaves are used to achieve higher temperatures. Syringe kits allow for non-replaceable parts to be kept together.

Disposable products currently dominate the market, although glass is sometimes preferred over plastic due to the properties of the injected substance.

However, most syringes, IV sets, and vascular catheter kits are made from plastic, with stainless steel needles, wrapped in cellophane, and sterilized by gamma irradiation (Figure 17).

Figure 17. Single-use syringe.

Figure 18. Modern, expensive injectable drugs are often administered using single-dose syringes, equipped with a plastic and rubber piston and a sealed needle attached to a glass tube for self-administration by patients.

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