Most practices don't set out to own three copies of the same cannula. It happens gradually. A power-assisted handpiece arrives, someone prefers syringe harvesting for grafting, a second site runs a different system, and each set-up gets its own drawer of cannulas. Adaptors are the simple fix: they let one cannula connect to several handles and syringes, so the drawer holds one set instead of several.
Here's how that works, using a CLINIMED cannula with the Nouvag® Liposurg® compatible hub as the example.
Why hub type decides what a cannula fits
Every CLINIMED cannula is a 2-part system. The cannula threads onto a separate handle and comes off again, rather than having the handle permanently attached as most liposuction cannulas on the market do. What decides which handle or syringe a cannula fits is its hub, and the hub is identified by the SKU suffix:
- -N Nouvag® compatible, for power-assisted liposuction (PAL) on Nouvag Liposurg handpieces
- -M MicroAire® PAL® compatible, for MicroAire power-assisted handpieces (it also fits the new Nouvag Liposurg Artist system)
- -A ACME, for handles with an ACME thread, including the CLINIMED universal suction-assisted liposuction (SAL) handle
- -T Toomey, for Toomey-tip syringes
- -L Secure Luer™, for luer-lock syringes and luer handles
- -V VASER® compatible, for VASER Vent-X™ aspiration handpieces
Without adaptors, the same tip style and diameter on a power handpiece and on a syringe means buying it twice. An adaptor sits between the hub and the handle or syringe and changes the connection, so the cannula you already own fits the other system. The full matrix of hubs, handles and adaptors is laid out in the Hub & Compatibility Guide.
One Nouvag-compatible cannula, five set-ups
A CLINIMED cannula with the Nouvag Liposurg compatible hub runs directly on a Nouvag Liposurg PAL handpiece. With the right adaptor, the same cannula also runs on the CLINIMED universal SAL handle, a MicroAire PAL handpiece, or a Toomey or luer-lock syringe. Here are the routes:
| Set-up | Technique | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Nouvag Liposurg handpiece | Power-assisted (PAL) | Nothing extra; the cannula connects directly |
| CLINIMED universal handle | Suction-assisted (SAL) | Universal handle to Nouvag Liposurg cannula adaptor with the universal SAL handle |
| MicroAire PAL handpiece | Power-assisted (PAL) | MicroAire PAL compatible Nouvag Liposurg cannula adaptor |
| Toomey syringe | Syringe-assisted | Toomey syringe to Nouvag Liposurg cannula adaptor |
| Luer-lock syringe | Syringe-assisted | Luer lock syringe to Nouvag Liposurg cannula adaptor |
One cannula covers power-assisted work on two handpiece brands, suction-assisted work on a manual handle, and syringe work with either syringe tip. Only the connection changes.
Other adaptors in the range
If your existing cannulas carry a luer or Toomey hub, or you work with VASER, these adaptors cover other common combinations:
- Universal handle to luer cannula adaptor: runs a luer-hub cannula on the CLINIMED universal handle
- Universal handle to Toomey cannula adaptor: runs a Toomey-hub cannula on the universal handle
- MicroAire PAL compatible luer cannula adapter: connects a luer-hub cannula to a MicroAire PAL handpiece
- Nouvag Liposurg to luer cannula adaptor: connects a luer-hub cannula to a Nouvag Liposurg handpiece
- Toomey syringe to luer lock cannula adaptor: puts a luer-lock cannula on a Toomey-tip syringe
- VASER Vent-X cannula adaptor: for use with VASER Vent-X aspiration handpieces
Not every hub is offered in every diameter, so check the options on each product page before you plan a set around a particular adaptor.
Why it matters: inventory and cost of ownership
The obvious saving is fewer duplicate cannulas: one cannula plus an adaptor replaces two. Across a range of diameters and several tip styles, that difference adds up quickly, in purchase cost and shelf space.
There are less obvious effects too. A smaller set is quicker to count, track and reprocess, and fewer items go missing between trays. And because the 2-part system already lets one handle serve every cannula with the same hub, a damaged cannula means replacing the cannula alone, not the handle with it.
Flexibility is the other half. Surgeons don't always use one technique per case, and practices don't always run one system at every site. A cannula that moves between a PAL handpiece, a manual handle and a syringe can follow the procedure, and it can travel with the surgeon to an operating site that uses different equipment.
A worked example: PAL plus syringe harvesting
Take a hypothetical practice that does power-assisted body contouring on a MicroAire handpiece and harvests fat for grafting by syringe. Without adaptors, it keeps two parallel sets: -M hub cannulas for the power handpiece and -T or -L hub cannulas for the syringes, often in overlapping tip styles and diameters.
With adaptors, it could standardise the overlapping cannulas on one hub, for example Nouvag-compatible, and add the adaptors needed for each set-up:
- Choose the tip styles and diameters the surgeons actually use in both techniques.
- Buy those once, with the Nouvag Liposurg compatible hub.
- Add the MicroAire PAL compatible Nouvag Liposurg cannula adaptor for power-assisted cases.
- Add the Toomey or luer-lock syringe adaptor, depending on which syringes the practice stocks, for harvesting.
- If a Nouvag Liposurg handpiece or universal SAL handle is added later, the same cannulas connect.
The exact saving depends on how much the two sets overlap. List current cannulas by hub, tip style and diameter before ordering; duplicates are easy to spot side by side. Cannulas that are only ever used in one technique can stay on their native hub.
Practical points
- Reprocess adaptors alongside the cannulas, following the manufacturer's IFU.
- Hub colour on CLINIMED cannulas shows the diameter, not the hub type, so check the SKU suffix when sorting sets.
- The Mix & Match configurator is a quick way to see which combinations work before ordering.
If you're not sure which hub and adaptor combination fits your equipment, start with the Hub & Compatibility Guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a liposuction cannula adaptor do?
It sits between the cannula hub and the handle, handpiece or syringe and changes the connection type. That lets one cannula work with systems it wouldn't otherwise fit.
Can I use a luer cannula on a MicroAire PAL handpiece?
Yes, with the MicroAire PAL compatible luer cannula adapter, which connects a luer-hub cannula to a MicroAire PAL handpiece.
Is there an adaptor to use Nouvag Liposurg cannulas on other systems?
Yes. CLINIMED Nouvag Liposurg compatible cannulas can run on the CLINIMED universal SAL handle, a MicroAire PAL handpiece, or a Toomey or luer-lock syringe with the matching adaptor.
Do I need a separate cannula for syringe fat harvesting?
Not necessarily. If you already own the tip style and diameter you want with a Nouvag-compatible hub, a Toomey or luer-lock syringe adaptor lets you use that cannula for syringe work.
How should adaptors be cleaned and sterilised?
Reprocess them with the cannulas and follow the manufacturer's IFU for cleaning and sterilisation parameters.
MicroAire®, PAL®, Nouvag®, Liposurg®, VASER® and Vent-X™ are trademarks of their respective owners. CLINIMED is not affiliated with these companies; these products are designed to be compatible with their systems.