Huber-point needle

Description

Hypodermic needle (needle which enters the skin)

Non coring type needle with a transversely curved wall and side hole giving it a long, sharp, curved tip. Differs from a typical needle where the opening of the needle is at the tip of the needle itself.

Originally designed to reduced pain when injecting local anaesthetic for dental procedures. Also known as a Tuohy Needle with Huber point

History of the Huber-point needle

• Originally described in 1943 by Ralph Lee Huber
• Patent assigned to Huber in 1946
• Designed to reduced pain when injecting local anaesthetic for dental procedures

It is an object of the invention to provide a hypodermic needle ’embodying a construction such that only minor pain Will be experienced by the patient as the needle penetrates the tissue. Moreover, a needle embodying the present teachings may be thrust into position with minimum effort and also be readily withdrawn from that position.

An additional object of the invention is that of providing a hypodermic needle in which plug cutting, with resultant danger of embolism will, in effect, be eliminated.

Still another object vis that of designing a device of this type through which medicament may be readily injected into the tissues or veins of a patient with no danger of back-pressures being generated.

Accordingly, it will be feasible to employ needles, the bodies of which will have minimum diameters Without reducing the volume or speed of the `injection of medicament or Withdrawal of blood Still another object is that of furnishing a hypodermic needle which will be of simple and rugged design and which may be manufactured by quantity production methods at minimum expense.

Huber 1943

Associated Persons

• Edward Boyce Tuohy (1908-1959)
• Ralph Lee Huber (1889-1953)

Alternative names

• Tuohy Needle

Controversies

In 1945, Edward Boyce Tuohy used Huber’s needle design for placement of spinal catheters. Although Huber patented the needle he did not publish any papers demonstrating its use.

In 1946, Huber applied for a patent on a needle with a ‘transversely curved wall…end portion’. Huber made many of his inventions available to the US Army during the war, including the Huber point which was adopted by the Army in 1942 and it is possible that Tuohy first encountered the Huber point during his time in the US Army.

References

Original articles

• Huber RL. Hypodermic needle. US patent 2 409 979. October 22, 1946
• Curbello MM. Continuous Peridural Segmental Anesthesia by Means of a Ureteral Catheter. Curr Res Anesth Analg. 1949 Jan-Feb;28(1):13-23.

Review articles

• Lubisich JW. Ralph L. Huber, DMD: forgotten inventor of the “Tuohy” needle. J Hist Dent. 2004 Jul;52(2):75-9.
• Frölich MA, Caton D. Pioneers in epidural needle design. Anesth Analg. 2001; 93(1): 215-20

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