The butterfly needle is one of the most common, versatile, and popular medical devices used across various medical and healthcare professions. Here, we’ll take a closer look at the butterfly needle and explore its many uses, technical advances, and considerations in the routine use of these devices.The butterfly needle is one of the most common, versatile, and popular medical devices used across various medical and healthcare professions. Butterfly needles are uniquely designed devices that are used for drawing blood. Some butterfly needles can also be used for infusion of medications intravenously. The term “butterfly needle” comes from the unique wing-like designs that flank the needle itself. Here, we’ll take a closer look at the butterfly needle and explore its many uses, technical advances, and considerations in the routine use of these devices.It’s possible to find butterfly needles in workplaces across the medical spectrum. Doctors, nurses, medical researchers, laboratorians, and, of course, phlebotomists all make use of butterfly needles on a regular basis. Butterfly needles are most often associated with the practice of phlebotomy –– typically, the withdrawal of a blood sample for the purpose of laboratory testing.
In addition, they can also be used to transfer medications intravenously –– particularly in the pediatric population or when a patient cannot take medicine orally. Butterfly needles are available with options in tubing length, needle gauge and adapters for a variety of applications.
