Luer the Flow

By Kalie Adams

The Luer Connector is possibly one of, if not the best, everyday devices used in modern medicine. This small but mighty piece of equipment has the ability to make care easier not only for the patient but also for the nurse.

The Luer Connector has quite a long history, being first invented in 1896 by Karl Schnedier, despite IVs (intravenous therapy) being largely unsuccessful when they were first attempted. Honestly, I don’t know how early doctors had the idea to insert fluids into the body for a faster release than ingestion, but they couldn’t simply insert a needle into a vein. Once, health care providers could successfully insert a needle into a vein without complications in the 1960s, the Luer connector finally found a place. It did get an upgrade referred to as the “Luer-Lok” in 1930, but it took till the late 1960s to become the most common piece of equipment in the field, and finally became standard in 1980.

I know I’ve already ranted about this complicated history, but seriously, how did people not realize this genius sooner? I work in the EMS field and have my eyes set on becoming a doctor, so my eyes never overlook the details in healthcare. Nobody likes being stuck with a needle, so the less it needs to happen, the better. The Luer connector also has other benefits, such as the ability to connect multiple lines to one needle. There are more impressive medical advancements like Hyfrecator or Endoscopy, but the Luer connector has everyday uses in many different medical settings

It may not be the most impressive piece of technology in a medical world of lasers and bionics, but the Luer connector is holding it all together, one screw at a time.