304/316L Stainless Steel Capillary Slotted and Graduated Puncture Needles are high-precision, multifunctional micro-instruments designed for procedures requiring exact fluid measurement and controlled access. These needles combine the fine bore of a capillary tube with a longitudinally slotted "window" that functions as a visual scale for volumetric reading. The sharp, precision-ground tip ensures clean penetration of septa or tissues. Manufactured from either 304 (general purpose) or 316L (enhanced corrosion resistance) stainless steel, they offer durability, biocompatibility, and a smooth, electropolished finish. The integrated scale allows for direct observation of fluid meniscus movement, enabling accurate micro-volume aspiration or injection, making them indispensable in advanced laboratory and medical micro-procedures.
Product Processing
Material Selection & Capillary Drawing: High-purity 304 or 316L stainless steel tubing is precision cold-drawn to achieve the specified ultra-fine inner and outer diameters with a mirror-like internal surface finish.
Precision Slot Milling (Scale Window Creation): A clean, longitudinal slot is machined along a defined section of the tube using ultra-fine laser cutting or precision micro-milling. The slot edges are meticulously deburred and polished to optical clarity.
Laser Etching of Graduations: High-resolution laser etching is used to apply permanent, clear graduation marks (in microliters (µL), milliliters (mL), or millimeters (mm)) directly onto the needle body adjacent to the slot. Numbers are etched for easy reading.
Tip Grinding & Forming: The distal end is ground to a specific, sharp point geometry (e.g., lancet for piercing, pencil point for non-coring applications). The grinding process maintains the needle's concentricity.
Surface Finishing & Passivation: The entire needle undergoes electropolishing, achieving a smooth, inert, and highly corrosion-resistant surface both internally and externally. A final passivation treatment (per ASTM A967) is applied.
Calibration & Cleaning: For critical applications, the volumetric scale can be calibrated against a traceable standard. The needle then undergoes intensive ultrasonic cleaning in a controlled environment.
Inspection & Packaging: 100% inspection of dimensions, slot clarity, graduation accuracy, and tip sharpness. Packaged individually in protective cleanroom packaging.
Product Applications
Microinjection in Embryology & Cell Biology: Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), pronuclear injection, and precise cytoplasmic transfer where nanoliter-volume control is critical.
Neuroscience Research: Intracerebral or intrathecal micro-injections in animal models for drug delivery or tracer application, with direct volume verification.
Chromatography & Analytical Chemistry: Precise sample introduction into GC/MS, HPLC, or capillary electrophoresis systems, using the scale for volume measurement.
Ophthalmic Surgery: Anterior chamber paracentesis (aqueous tap) or intravitreal injections requiring exact small-volume aspiration or delivery.
Pharmaceutical R&D: Micro-dosing studies and nano-liter scale fluid handling in drug discovery platforms.
Veterinary Reproduction: Embryo transfer and artificial insemination procedures in small animals.
Product Technical Parameters (Detailed Table)
Category
Parameter
Specification / Details
Material
Grades
304 Stainless Steel (General purpose). 316L Stainless Steel (Preferred for biological buffers, salts, and enhanced corrosion resistance).
Biocompatibility
Suitable for biological fluids. 316L offers superior compatibility for prolonged contact.
Capillary Dimensions
Outer Diameter (OD)
0.3 mm to 1.2 mm (e.g., 30G to 19G equivalent)
Inner Diameter (ID)
0.15 mm to 0.9 mm (Defines volume per unit length)
Wall Thickness
0.075 mm to 0.15 mm
Total Length
35 mm to 150 mm
Slot & Scale
Slot Length
10 mm to 40 mm (Observation window)
Slot Width
0.15 mm to 0.4 mm
Graduation Units
Microliters (µL), Nanoliters (nL), or Millimeters (mm)
Scale Interval
0.1 µL, 0.5 µL, 1.0 µL, 0.5 mm, 1 mm (Customizable)
Scale Accuracy
± 2% to ± 5% of indicated volume (dependent on ID consistency and calibration)
Marking Permanence
Laser-etched, resistant to solvents and sterilization.
Tip Configuration
Point Types
Lancet (Sharp Bevel), Pencil Point (Non-Coring), Blunt (Polished)
Bevel Angle
12° to 20° (for lancet points)
Performance
Fluid Contact Surface
Full electropolish, Ra ≤ 0.2 µm.
Volume Calculation
Based on ID: Volume (µL) = π * (ID/2)² * Length (mm). Scale provides direct visual readout.
Pressure Rating
Function of ID and wall thickness. Consult for high-pressure applications.
Quality & Compliance
Dimensional Inspection
OD/ID via laser micrometer, slot dimensions via optical measurement, scale verification.
Calibration Certificate
Optional NIST-traceable volumetric calibration report for the scale.
Cleanliness
Cleaned to meet or exceed ISO 13485 cleanliness standards for fluid path devices.
Sterilization Compatibility
Compatible with standard methods: Autoclave (for reusable), Gamma, ETO. Supplied non-sterile or sterilized.
Packaging
Individually pouched in cleanroom conditions. Clearly labeled with material, ID/OD, and scale range.