The tip pattern gets most of the attention when you choose a liposuction cannula, but the hub decides whether it connects to anything at all. Get it wrong and you have a well-made cannula that won't thread onto your handle, lock onto your syringe or seat in your power handpiece. Here are the hub types we make, the technique each belongs to, and how to work out which one you need.
Why the hub matters more than people expect
Every CLINIMED cannula is a 2-part system. The cannula threads onto a separate handle, syringe or handpiece and comes off again, rather than being permanently attached to a handle. That makes the hub the interface between the cannula and the rest of your set-up. It has to match whatever you're attaching it to, and that's set by your system and technique, not by the cannula's diameter or tip.
Our hubs are machined from 6061-T6 medical-grade aluminium, finished to Ra 0.8 µm and anodized. By material density, an aluminium hub is about 66% lighter than the same geometry in 316 stainless steel. The design intent is simple: less weight at the end of the cannula, so there's less in the hand over a long case and a better feel for the tip.
The seven hub types, matched to technique
Here's the short version. The SKU suffix is the letter at the end of the product code, which makes ordering and reordering much easier once you know which hub you run.
| Hub | Technique | Use it with | SKU suffix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secure Luer™ | Syringe-assisted | Luer-lock syringes and luer handles | -L |
| Toomey | Syringe-assisted | Toomey-tip syringes, e.g. 60 cc Monoject™ Toomey | -T |
| ACME | Suction-assisted (SAL) | Handles with ACME thread, incl. the CLINIMED universal SAL handle | -A |
| Alma BeautiFill® compatible | Laser-assisted (LAL) | BeautiFill laser liposuction and fat harvesting system | -X |
| MicroAire® PAL® compatible | Power-assisted (PAL) | MicroAire PAL handpieces and the Nouvag® Liposurg® Artist system | -M |
| Nouvag compatible | Power-assisted (PAL) | Nouvag Liposurg handpieces | -N |
| VASER® compatible | Ultrasound-assisted (UAL) | VASER Vent-X™ aspiration handpieces | -V |
Coming in 2027: three more power-assisted hubs
Three new hub types are in development and will be available to order in 2027, all for power-assisted liposuction (PAL):
| Hub | Use it with | SKU suffix |
|---|---|---|
| Euromi® Evamatic compatible | Euromi Evamatic power-assisted handpieces (M6 × 1 threaded connection). Brushed stainless steel hub, not colour-coded. | -E |
| VASER® Power-X compatible | VASER Power-X power-assisted handpieces (gear drive with O-ring seal) | -P |
| Möller® Vibrasat Pro compatible | Möller Medical Vibrasat Pro power-assisted handpieces (square drive with latch clip) | -S |
To be told when they launch, email info@clinimed.us. The Hub & Compatibility Guide shows a photo of each.
Syringe-assisted: Secure Luer or Toomey
Both syringe hubs serve the same technique, so the choice comes down to the syringe on your tray. The Secure Luer hub locks onto luer-lock syringes and luer handles, and it's common for infiltration, facial work and fat grafting. The Toomey hub fits Toomey-tip syringes such as the 60 cc Monoject Toomey, and it's the usual choice for syringe liposuction and larger-volume harvesting. The "luer vs Toomey" question is really a question about which syringe you prefer to work with.
Suction-assisted: ACME
For conventional SAL on an aspirator, the ACME hub threads onto handles with an ACME thread, including our universal suction-assisted liposuction handle. Because the handle stays on the suction tubing, you can change cannulas during a case without disconnecting the line. One handle serves every ACME-hub cannula in your set.
Laser-assisted: Alma BeautiFill compatible
The -X hub is made for the Alma BeautiFill laser liposuction and fat harvesting system. If you're setting up for BeautiFill from scratch, the BeautiFill laser liposuction starter set brings the hub type and a working selection together.
Power-assisted: MicroAire PAL compatible or Nouvag compatible
Both are PAL systems, but the hubs aren't interchangeable. The MicroAire PAL compatible hub (-M) fits MicroAire PAL handpieces, and it also fits the new Nouvag Liposurg Artist system. The Nouvag compatible hub (-N) fits Nouvag Liposurg handpieces. So a clinic running the Liposurg Artist needs the -M hub, not the -N. Check the handpiece model, not just the manufacturer.
From 2027, three more PAL systems get their own hub: Euromi Evamatic (-E), VASER Power-X (-P) and Möller Vibrasat Pro (-S). Note that VASER makes two different systems: Vent-X handpieces for ultrasound-assisted liposuction take the -V hub, while the Power-X power-assisted handpiece will take the -P hub.
Ultrasound-assisted: VASER compatible
The -V hub fits VASER Vent-X aspiration handpieces for UAL. Not every hub is offered in every diameter, so check the options on each product page before you plan a set around a particular size.
Hub colour shows diameter, not hub type
Our hubs are colour-coded, but the colour tells you the cannula's outer diameter, not which system it fits. Black is under 1.0 mm, violet 1.0–1.9 mm, blue 2.0–2.9 mm, green 3.0–3.9 mm, yellow 4.0–4.9 mm and red 5.0–5.9 mm. A green Toomey cannula and a green VASER compatible cannula are the same diameter band and fit completely different equipment. When you're sorting instruments after reprocessing, read the hub, then the colour.
How to tell which hub you need
- Name the technique. Syringe, suction, laser, power or ultrasound. That narrows it to one or two hubs straight away.
- Identify the exact device. For PAL, note the handpiece model. MicroAire PAL and Nouvag Liposurg Artist take -M; other Nouvag Liposurg handpieces take -N. From 2027: Euromi Evamatic takes -E, VASER Power-X takes -P and Möller Vibrasat Pro takes -S.
- For syringe work, check the syringe tip. A threaded luer-lock collar means Secure Luer (-L); a Toomey tip means Toomey (-T).
- For SAL, check the handle thread. ACME-threaded handles take the -A hub.
- Still unsure? Compare your equipment against the Hub & Compatibility Guide before you order.
Running one cannula on several systems
Plenty of practices run more than one technique, and buying a duplicate set of cannulas for each system adds up. Adaptors help here. A CLINIMED cannula with the Nouvag Liposurg compatible hub runs directly on a Nouvag Liposurg PAL handpiece; with adaptors, the same cannula also runs on the CLINIMED universal SAL handle, a MicroAire PAL handpiece, or a Toomey or luer-lock syringe. Examples include the MicroAire PAL compatible Nouvag Liposurg cannula adaptor and the Toomey syringe to luer lock cannula adaptor. Fewer duplicate cannulas means a smaller inventory and a lower cost of ownership.
The 2-part design helps with ownership costs in other ways too. If a cannula is damaged, you replace only the cannula, not the handle as well. Separated, the parts also fit the standard tabletop autoclaves found in many clinics, and a brush and rinse water can pass straight through the lumen from the hub. Always follow the manufacturer's IFU for reprocessing and sterilisation parameters.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a luer and a Toomey liposuction cannula?
Both are for syringe-assisted liposuction, but they fit different syringes. A Secure Luer hub locks onto luer-lock syringes and luer handles, while a Toomey hub fits Toomey-tip syringes such as the 60 cc Monoject Toomey.
Do MicroAire PAL compatible cannulas fit Nouvag handpieces?
The MicroAire PAL compatible hub (-M) fits the Nouvag Liposurg Artist system as well as MicroAire PAL handpieces. Other Nouvag Liposurg handpieces take the Nouvag compatible hub (-N).
Does the hub colour tell me which system a cannula fits?
No. Hub colour shows the cannula's outer diameter band, from black for under 1.0 mm to red for 5.0–5.9 mm. The hub type is shown by the SKU suffix.
Can I use one cannula on more than one liposuction system?
Yes, with adaptors. A cannula with the Nouvag Liposurg compatible hub can run on a Nouvag Liposurg handpiece directly, and on the CLINIMED universal SAL handle, a MicroAire PAL handpiece or a Toomey or luer-lock syringe with the right adaptor.
Are more hub types coming?
Yes. Euromi Evamatic compatible (-E), VASER Power-X compatible (-P) and Möller Vibrasat Pro compatible (-S) hubs, all for power-assisted liposuction, will be available to order in 2027.
MicroAire®, PAL®, Nouvag®, Liposurg®, VASER®, Vent-X™, Power-X, Euromi®, Evamatic, Möller® Medical, Vibrasat, Alma®, BeautiFill® and Monoject™ are trademarks of their respective owners. CLINIMED is not affiliated with these companies; these products are designed to be compatible with their systems.