The Basics

 

Blunt-tip cannulas

Buretrol

Carpuject

Clave port

Clip-lock cannula

Drug vial adaptor

Filter needle/straw

Flush

Needles

Needle-less port

Saline lock

 
Blunt-tip Cannulas  
     
universal tip universal close Description:

Universal blunt-tip needles have a bevel and can puncture a vial without a separate puncture item.

Description:

Blunt-tip needles are used to access needle-less ports. They are intended to prevent needle-stick injuries. There are multiple different colors but they generally are a standard gauge and length. (Index)

The blunt-tip needle pictured is used to access vials.  The orange part pulls out and is used to puncture the top of a rubber vial so that that blunt tip can be inserted.  
Buretrol  

Description:

A buretrol is a type of infusion device that holds limited quantities of IV fluids or medications. It is generally used for pediatrics and often is designed to prevent free flow of fluids or air once the infusion is done (children are less able to handle large fluid influxes like adults can). The IV fluids are attached above the buretrol and refilled manually as the volume decreases. (Index)

 

Carpuject®  

Description:

A Carpuject® allows for administration of medications that are pre-filled. Carpujects can be re-used and are often found throughout the care unit. To load a carpuject you need to first make sure the device is open (the bottom blue part must be unscrewed).  The prefilled syringe needs to be inserted into the open space. The while plunger is then screwed into the bottom of the pre-filled vial until it is tight against the bottom of the vial.  Once this is complete, the blue portion on the bottom is twisted to lock it in place (Index)

 

Clave Ports  

Description:

Clave ports allow access to the IV tubing or a saline lock. A syringe is directly attached to the port rather than using a blunt tip or regular needle.  Clave ports can be multiple colors but have the characteristic threads necessary for attachment of the syringe. (Index)

 

Clip-lock cannulas  

Description:

The clip-lock cannula allows for secondary tubing to be attached to the main IV line (e.g. for the infusion of piggyback or syringe pump medications). It is essential that the cannula is first attached to the secondary line BEFORE attaching to the main line. Again, they may be many colors but are commonly purple or orange. (Index)

Drug vial adaptor    

Description:

A drug vial adaptor allows for repeated access to a vial of medication. The blue spike seen CANNOT be removed from the vial once inserted. For this reason, a drug vial adaptor with the blue spike in it should never be used to access an IV line directly. (Index)

Filter Straw  

Description:

A filter straw or needle is used to draw up medications from a glass ampule. The filter straw/needle CANNOT be used to inject medications, it must be removed once the medication is drawn up. (Index)

Flush  

Description:

A flush syringe is a pre-drawn vial of fluid (usually normal saline) that can be used for multiple purposes including clearing a line after IV bolus, establishing a saline lock or testing for line patency.  It may come in many shapes, sizes and amounts (e.g. 3cc, 5cc, 10cc). The flush pictured could be attached directly to a clave port. Some flushes are designed to be administered using a Carpuject®. Flushes that are pre-packed generally need to be primed, namely the air needs to be removed and the seal needs to be broken.  Saline flushes should not be used for reconstituting medications. (Index)

Needles  

Description:

Needles can be a variety of different gauges (needle size increases as the gauge (which refers to the diameter of the needle itself) decreases, e.g. a 12 gauge needle is bigger than a 22 gauge needle). Needles can be a variety of different lengths as well, the length used will depend on what it is being used for (e.g. IM injection versus SQ injection). Many care areas are trying to eliminate or greatly reduce the use of needles to prevent needle-stick injuries. Needles that are still needed often have safety devices on them such as plastic sheaths that slide over the needle once it has been used (e.g. the needle pictured on the far left). Needles can be used to access needle-less and normal ports but CANNOT be used to access clave ports. Needles are NOT the preferred method of accessing IV lines and ports. (Index)

Needle-less ports  

Description:

Needle-less ports can be accessed using blunt tip cannulas, regular needles or click-lock cannulas. They may be a variety of colors but are a standard size. The item on the far right is a blunt-tip port on an IV line. (Index)

Saline lock  

Description:

A saline lock (sometimes called a heparin lock) is initiated when a patient no longer needs IV fluids, but may still need IV access for emergencies or future infusions.  Accessing a saline lock for medication administration is dependent on the type of port that is at the end of the IV tubing. A clave port is picture here. (Index)

 

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