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Insulin Syringes for Insemination Work

There is another size of insulin syringe that has a capacity of 1 ml, this has a needle that is cemented in place, but there are modifications that we can do to make this type useful as well. The drawing above is about twice full size and the one on the right is about eight times life size to show the detail. The tubular metal needle can be pulled free using pliers and a bit of a twisting action. Alternatively the metal needle can be heated with a soldering iron, in which case it pulls out effortlessly. The three plastic fins can be pared down using a scalpel or a modeling knife. Which leaves a cylindrical nipple at the tip that can have plastic tubing pushed over it's end for saline delivery. As illustrated at left.

These small plastic syringes normally come with needles attached, but after use these may be removed from syringe by judicious use of a pair of pliers. They should be disassembled and washed in a strong detergent solution. Silicone grease will then need to be re-applied to the nitrile rubber piston to achieve a reliable seal.

It may be advantageous to thread a compression spring over the piston before assembly... This will act as a return spring (suitable springs can be retrieved from extinct retractable ball point pens). The springs in the samples shown at right came from a dismantled computer printer.

My personal supplies of these syringe items are assured, as I am diabetic and so is my wife. I am collecting our used syringes and they will be available for free distribution at future IINGRIDD Meetings.

There is another size of insulin syringe that has a capacity of 1 ml, this has a needle that is cemented in place, but there are modifications that we can do to make this type useful as well. The drawing above is about twice full size and the one on the right is about eight times life size to show the detail. The tubular metal needle can be pulled free using pliers and a bit of a twisting action. Alternatively the metal needle can be heated with a soldering iron, in which case it pulls out effortlessly.

The three plastic fins can be pared down using a scalpel or a modeling knife. Which leaves a cylindrical nipple at the tip that can have plastic tubing pushed over it's end for saline delivery. As illustrated at left.

Originated... 03 July 2002, Revised... 25 January 2003,