Arterial puncture needle

Arterial puncture needle is used to puncture the artery for introducing a guide wire needed for the introduction of an arterial sheath for catheterisation. After placing a small skin nick over the artery to be punctured under local anaesthesia, the needle is introduced with the bevel upwards and slanting at about 45 degrees. Once the pulsation of the artery is felt at the needle tip, a brisk movement causes the needle to puncture the anterior wall of the artery and a jet of blood gushes out of the proximal end of the needle hub. A guide wire is introduced and the needle withdrawn. The valved arterial sheath is threaded over the guide wire and the guide wire is removed.

The original arterial puncture needle was Seldinger needle and the technique of puncture was called Seldinger technique. The Seldinger needle had a flange just distal to the hub.