Product Specification

Product details

The Tuohy Epidural Needle is a hollow hypodermic needle designed for the precise insertion of epidural catheters. Its curved tip helps prevent puncture of the dural membrane. At Manners Technology, Tuohy needle gauges range from 25-gauge to 14-gauge, with extra-long options for obese patients and customized sizes available. This needle is the most commonly used among various epidural needles, including Hustead, Crawford, and Weiss. As an ideal obstetrical needle, the Tuohy features a rounded bevel cutting edge, sharp tip, and slightly curved end, making it perfect for disposable or continuous spinal anesthesia.

The needle is made from high tensile strength 304 stainless steel, ensuring durability and smooth insertions. It has brown and silver markings along the shaft at 10 mm intervals. Calibrated needle depth markings assist in awareness of needle placement depth.

Safety features include a buffed bevel heel to minimize epidural catheter shearing. A curved blunt cutting tip for safer epidural procedures. Unique one-piece plastic stylet is fitted to prevent tissue coring and is lighter to enhance tactile feel during insertion. The flush ends of the metal stylet and needle reduce the risk of tissue displacement. Additionally, the hub of the stylet is color-coded by needle diameter and features a lug to indicate bevel orientation, enhancing usability and safety.

The manufacturing process of the Tuohy Epidural Needle involves several meticulous steps, including grinding, swaging, bending, and laser marking, etc.

Firstly, the needle undergoes grinding using a grinder to sharpen its tip. Following this, swaging, or flanging, is performed at the base using a two-die rotary swaging machine. This machine employs reciprocating radial motion to shape the ends of the material, allowing for pointing, downsizing, and forming of metal wires, rods, and tubes. Subsequently, bending and laser marking are conducted using a bending machine and laser marking equipment, respectively. Laser marking is particularly essential for visualizing the depth of needle penetration, ensuring accuracy during medical procedures. 

Electrochemical Etching are other methods for marking Tuohy Epidural Needles. A marking head applies a weak current to the metal surface through a stencil soaked in electrolyte fluid, allowing for the creation of either dark markings or white etchings by alternating between Alternating (AC) and Direct (DC) electric currents. This technique offers flexibility and cost-effectiveness, suitable for various applications. Electrolytic etching ensures rapid and clear markings without surface distortion, even on thin metal plates. The etching depth is limited to a maximum of 0.02 inches, which is essentially negligible.

Next, the needle undergoes electropolishing per ASTM B912 standards. This electrochemical process is chosen when higher corrosion resistance and the removal of surface defects like burrs and microcracks are required. Electropolishing precisely removes a microscopically thin layer of surface material, with removal controlled to within +/- .0001 inches, depending on the alloy. The result is a smooth bevel surface finish of 0.25 microns Ra.

Following electropolishing, the needle is subjected to ultrasonic cleaning. Ultrasonic cleaners emit up to 40 thousand sound pulses per second, each pulse providing cleaning action as it impacts the needle surface. This high-frequency wave action ensures the efficient removal of contaminants, surpassing the effectiveness of other cleaning methods.

Finally, the needle undergoes rigorous quality testing to ensure its dimensional accuracy, structural integrity, and adherence to specifications. Each step in the manufacturing process contributes to the Tuohy Epidural Needle's exceptional quality, durability, and performance, making it a reliable tool for medical practitioners in various procedures.