Bifurcated needle

The bifurcated needle is a narrow steel rod, approximately 5 cm (2 in) long with two prongs at one end.

[1] It was designed to hold one dose of reconstituted freeze-dried smallpox vaccine between its prongs.

When done correctly a trace of blood appears at the vaccination site within 10 to 20 seconds after the procedure.

[3][4] The bifurcated needle was created as a more efficient and cost effective alternative to the jet injector previously in use.

It was invented in 1965 by Dr. Benjamin Rubin, working at Wyeth Laboratories, and was the primary instrument used during the World Health Organization's 1966–1977 campaign to eradicate smallpox.

Smallpox vaccine being administered by the bifurcated needle.
hands wearing purple gloves holding on the right an open vial of smallpox vaccine and on the left a bifurcated needle that has a small droplet dose of the vaccine
A hospital corpsman dips a bifurcated vaccination needle into an open vial of smallpox vaccine.