There are some key points to consider when selecting surgical instruments for a procedure. Read this guide to know what you need to consider.
When selecting surgical instruments for a procedure, here are some key points to consider.
What procedure are you performing? Published research articles usually indicate which instruments other researchers have used for similar procedures. The correct surgical instrument for a particular procedure makes a difference in the outcome of that technique.
What is the size of your subject? An instrument that is perfect for a 200-300 g rat (about 22-25 cm long) may not be the best choice for a neonatal rat of about 15 g (about 1-2.5 cm long).
How often will the instrument be used? If you make more than 100 cuts a day, it's worth considering a pair of titanium scissors or a pair of scissors with tungsten carbide inserts. They stay sharp for longer.
In this article, we'll consider some of these factors and offer some tips for selecting an appropriate pair of scissors, tweezers and forceps.
Types of surgical instruments
Most of our surgical instruments can be used for general surgery in a research laboratory. Instruments can be roughly categorized by function:
Cutting instruments include scissors, surgical blades, knives, and scalpels.
Grasping or holding instruments include hemostatic forceps and tissue forceps.
Retractors, which hold open incisions or keep an organ (or tissue) out of the way, include Gelpi, Weitlaner and US Army style instruments.
In addition to surgical instruments, there are many accessories available that include all the extras needed for surgery. These include forceps, from large towel clamps to delicate blood vessel clamps and bulldog forceps, drills, sutures, binocular lenses, biopsy punches and more.
Choosing tools
The instruments you choose for your procedure are influenced by many factors. A basic understanding of common surgical instruments can help you select the appropriate instruments for your application. If you have questions about our surgical instruments, please email us at marketing@jenseninstruments.com.au or call us at 1800 188 218.
Jensen Instrument Technologies is a long-established company distributing precision surgical instrumentation across Australia and New Zealand. Our company specialises in the supply of maintenance of precision mechanical, optical and power surgical instruments for surgical theatres. Learn more about us here.
