Tuohy Needle SizesA Guide to Gauge, Length and Ordering Details

For the person placing the order, the useful question is straightforward: does this listing match the needle the clinical team requested? Reading the fields separately makes that comparison clearer. This guide explains catalog terminology and purchasing details; the clinical team determines which device is appropriate for a procedure.

What do gauge and length mean?

Gauge is a designation associated with a needle's outside diameter. In the conventional gauge chart published by Hamilton, higher gauge numbers correspond to smaller outside diameters. Length describes a different dimension. An 18G needle can therefore appear in more than one length, and two needles with the same listed length can have different gauges. Hamilton's manufacturer gauge chart is a laboratory-needle reference for this terminology, not a Tuohy selection guide.

Read “18G × 3½ inches” as two fields: 18G is the gauge; 3½ inches is the listed length. Do not read the gauge number as a length, or assume that it alone tells you the internal diameter. Hamilton lists outside diameter, inside diameter and wall thickness separately.

For ordering, retain the supplier's stated size and units. Adding a precise-looking conversion is less useful than matching the actual catalog description.

The same gauge can appear at different lengths

Clint's AccuTIP PLUS listings provide a practical example. CP-PLUS1835T is an 18G × 3½-inch Tuohy needle with fixed wings. CP-PLUS1860TD is an 18G × 6-inch Tuohy needle with detachable wings. They share a gauge, but their listed lengths and wing configurations differ. Neither difference should disappear from an order description.

The reverse comparison matters too. Clint lists 17G, 18G and 20G AccuTIP PLUS needles at 3½ inches, each with fixed wings. A request that says only “3½-inch Tuohy” does not distinguish those products. The gauge and exact product code supply the missing information.

Clint's epidural needle catalog contains additional listings; the examples below are a focused comparison rather than its full assortment.

These are publicly listed presentations checked September 30, 2026. The pages require login for cart access and do not establish current stock, account pricing or package quantity.

Make the reorder description easier to check

An office can keep a concise ordering record that preserves the clinical team's request. A useful example based on a verified listing is: “AccuTIP PLUS Tuohy, 18G × 3½ inches, fixed wings, Clint code CP-PLUS1835T; confirm package quantity before ordering.” It identifies a particular presentation without inventing a box count.

Use the previous approved product record or requested catalog number as the starting point. Then compare the current listing's size and configuration, and confirm how many individual units are supplied in the orderable package. Keep manufacturer identifiers and supplier codes in separate fields when both are provided; do not assume they are interchangeable.

If the listing differs from the request, resolve the difference before ordering. A purchasing team can flag the mismatch clearly without deciding whether the alternative is clinically suitable.

Compare the requested Tuohy products at Clint

Ready to verify a requested presentation? Open Clint's epidural needle section, or use the direct product links in the comparison table. They take you to the relevant listings even when purchasing details require an account login.

Match the approved request to the exact product page, then confirm package quantity, availability and account pricing with Clint. Use the device instructions for its handling and use.

Frequently asked questions

Does a higher gauge number mean a longer Tuohy needle?

No. Gauge and length describe separate dimensions. Hamilton's gauge chart explains the diameter designation; read the length field independently.

Are 18G × 3½-inch and 18G × 6-inch listings the same product?

No. The listed lengths differ. Clint's 18G × 3½-inch fixed-wing listing and 18G × 6-inch detachable-wing listing also have different codes and configurations.

Can matching gauge and length prove that needles are interchangeable?

No. Those fields do not establish connector, tip, component or other device specifications. Any proposed substitution needs the clinical team's review of the exact products.

Does a Tuohy needle listing include a full tray?

Do not assume so. Verify the listing's stated contents and confirm any separately required components before placing the order.

Where can an office check the number of needles per package?

Use the exact product's packaging information or confirm it with Clint. Package quantity was not visible on the public AccuTIP PLUS pages used for this comparison.

Sources checked September 30, 2026: the linked Clint product listings, Hamilton gauge chart. No revision dates were visible on the manufacturer pages.