West launches intradermal adapter for shallow injections

West Pharmaceutical Services's
intradermal adapter--Courtesy of
West

West Pharmaceutical Services ($WST) rolled out an adapter for standard needles that enables easier and more consistent delivery into a patient's skin at a very shallow angle. The intradermal adapter clips onto the needle and guides the tip into the skin's intradermal space--between the epidermis and the dermis--for shots that include allergy tests and assays for elements such as rabies or tuberculosis. The current method for intradermal injection has been the standard since 1907 and requires extensive training, whereas West's adapter allows for greater reliability. The FDA recently granted West 510(k) clearance for the device. Release | Diagram (PDF)