Surgical instruments
Surgical instruments are tools designed to cut, grasp, retract, expose, or otherwise manipulate tissue during operations and other medical procedures.
Scalpel: A small surgical knife with a sharp blade used to make precise incisions. It exemplifies instruments designed to cut tissue.
Surgical stainless steel: Corrosion-resistant steel alloys used to make durable medical and surgical devices. Many reusable instruments rely on its strength and resistance to cleaning chemicals.
Laparoscopic instruments: Long, narrow instruments used to operate through small incisions under camera guidance. They adapt familiar functions such as grasping and cutting to minimally invasive access.
Sterilization (microbiology): The process of eliminating all forms of microbial life from an object or material. Reusable instruments must be sterilized before they enter sterile operative fields.
Surgical forceps: Hinged or tweezer-like tools used to grasp, hold, or manipulate tissue and materials. They show how instruments secure tissue without cutting it.
Titanium: A strong, lightweight metal valued for corrosion resistance and compatibility with the body. Its low weight and corrosion resistance suit selected surgical tools and implants.
Endoscopic instruments: Tools passed through an endoscope to diagnose or treat structures inside the body. They work through confined channels where ordinary hand instruments cannot reach.
Surgical instrument tracking: Systems for identifying and monitoring instruments through cleaning, sterilization, storage, and use. Tracking supports maintenance, accountability, and reliable reprocessing.
Surgical scissors: Surgical tools with opposing blades used to cut tissue, sutures, or other materials. Their design adapts the cutting action to different tissues and tasks.
Surgical instrument joint: A connection, such as a box lock or pivot, that lets instrument parts move relative to one another. Joint geometry controls the motion and force of hinged instruments.