Why Choose Gertie Marx® Spinal Needle?

History:

The Gertie Marx® Spinal Needle was developed in 1993 through a collaboration between Dr. Gertie F. Marx—renowned for her contributions to obstetric anesthesia—and a panel of leading anesthesiologists. Their goal was to create a spinal needle specifically optimized for safety, reliability, and ease of use in neuraxial procedures. Informed by direct clinical experience, the design quickly gained widespread adoption for its precision, tactile feedback, and patient-centered features. Over three decades later, it remains a trusted choice in spinal anesthesia worldwide.

Characteristics:

Material: Made from durable stainless steel 304 for strength and biocompatibility.

Tip Design: Pencil-point with lateral eye for controlled CSF flow and atraumatic dural penetration.

Hub: Transparent Luer lock hub with magnifying effect for earlier visualization of CSF return ("flashback").

Wall Structure: Thin-wall construction enables higher CSF flow rates even in smaller gauge needles.

Stylet: Color-coded, matched stylet with 360° grip for enhanced control and gauge recognition.

Orientation Aid: Side port indicator provides clear visual confirmation of needle direction.

Gauge & Length Options: Available in a variety of gauges and lengths ranging from 27G to 22G and 50mm/2” to 215mm/8.5”

Introducer: Each needle includes a compatible introducer for precise placement.

Advantages:

The Gertie Marx® Spinal Needle is specifically designed to minimize patient complications—most notably, post-dural puncture headache (PDPH). Its atraumatic pencil-point tip and lateral eye design help reduce the incidence of PDPH to less than 1%, a significant improvement over traditional cutting needles. This reduction not only enhances patient comfort and recovery but also decreases the need for epidural blood patches, leading to fewer follow-up interventions, reduced hospital resource utilization, and improved overall satisfaction with neuraxial anesthesia.