Why 18 Gauge Large-Bore Needles?

Fine-gauge needles (22G-25G) create significant resistance during fluid transfer, making them impractical for viscous medications like suspensions or oil-based formulations, rapid fluid administration during emergency resuscitation, drawing blood from patients with difficult venous access, or aspirating thick fluids from anatomical spaces—procedures where slow flow rates compromise patient care, waste clinical time, or risk medication dosing errors from incomplete transfer. Large-bore 18-gauge needles revolutionize these applications through significantly increased internal diameter that reduces flow resistance exponentially according to Poiseuille's law—enabling rapid medication reconstitution from powder vials, fast administration of viscous antibiotics or hormones, efficient blood drawing from collapsed or sclerotic veins, and complete aspiration of thick joint fluids or abscesses without needle clogging. The 1.5-inch length provides adequate reach for intramuscular injections in larger patients, accessing deeper tissue planes, penetrating through subcutaneous fat layers in bariatric individuals, and reaching target anatomical structures that superficial needles cannot access safely. Regular bevel geometry creates sharp tri-faceted cutting edge that penetrates tissue cleanly with minimal trauma compared to blunt needles while maintaining structural integrity during insertion through tough fascia or dense muscle. For emergency departments managing trauma resuscitation, surgical teams reconstituting medications rapidly, phlebotomists drawing from difficult veins, and any clinical scenario requiring fast viscous fluid transfer, 18-gauge needles eliminate flow resistance bottlenecks, reduce procedure time, improve medication dosing accuracy, and enable successful venous access where finer needles fail.

Key Features

• Large-Bore Diameter: 18 gauge (1.27 mm internal diameter)—significantly larger bore for rapid fluid transfer and viscous medications
• Extended Length: 1.5 inches (38 mm)—adequate reach for intramuscular injections and deeper tissue access
• Regular Bevel Design: Standard tri-faceted cutting edge provides clean tissue penetration with minimal trauma
• Sterile Single-Use: Each needle individually packaged and sterilized using validated sterilization protocols
• Color-Coded Hub: Pink hub follows universal color-coding standard for instant 18-gauge identification
• Stainless Steel Construction: Medical-grade stainless steel provides strength, sharpness, and corrosion resistance
• Luer Lock Compatible: Standard hub fits Luer lock and Luer slip syringes universally
• Needles Only Format: Sold without syringes for flexibility in syringe selection based on volume requirements
• Medical-Grade Manufacturing: Produced under strict quality controls meeting regulatory standards

Benefits

• Enables rapid fluid transfer for viscous medications, suspensions, and oil-based formulations
• Reduces medication waste through complete aspiration from vials without needle clogging
• Provides adequate length for intramuscular injections in larger patients and bariatric individuals
• Facilitates successful venous access in patients with difficult veins where finer needles fail
• Color-coded pink hub enables instant gauge identification preventing medication errors
• Sterile packaging maintains aseptic technique and reduces infection risk
• Compatible with all standard Luer lock and Luer slip syringes for procedural flexibility
• Sharp regular bevel penetrates tissue cleanly with minimal patient discomfort

Recommended Use

Perfect for emergency department trauma resuscitation requiring rapid fluid administration, operating room medication reconstitution from powder vials, phlebotomy blood draws from difficult collapsed or sclerotic veins, intramuscular injections in bariatric or muscular patients, aspiration of viscous joint fluids or abscesses, administration of thick antibiotic suspensions or hormone preparations, veterinary applications requiring large-bore access, and any clinical procedure where viscous fluid transfer or rapid flow rates are essential. Particularly valuable when drawing up oil-based medications that clog finer needles, reconstituting lyophilized powders requiring multiple draws, accessing deeper intramuscular sites in patients with significant subcutaneous tissue, and emergency scenarios demanding fastest possible medication administration or fluid resuscitation.

Technical Specifications

• Gauge Size: 18 G (gauge)
• Internal Diameter: 1.27 mm (0.050 inches)
• Outer Diameter: 1.60 mm (0.063 inches)
• Needle Length: 1.5 inches (38 mm)
• Bevel Type: Regular bevel (standard tri-faceted cutting edge)
• Hub Color: Pink (universal 18-gauge color code)
• Hub Type: Luer lock and Luer slip compatible
• Material: Medical-grade stainless steel
• Sterility: Sterile, single-use only
• Packaging: Individually packaged in sterile peel-open packages
• Quantity: Box (quantity varies by package—confirm with supplier)
• Manufacturer: Medline Industries