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What Are Surgical Scalpels?

August 6, 2024
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Surgical Scalpels are the most primitive type of surgical instrument. They are derived from the Latin word “Scallpellus,” meaning knife. They are comprised of two types of surgical instruments: accessory instruments and cutting and dissecting instruments. Accessory means don’t have a specific function but facilitate the surgical process, and cutting and dissecting means that they are involved in making incisions. category of accessory instruments. In this blog, we will discuss what they are, their types, features, and uses.

Surgical Scalpels have a long history dating back to the Stone Age, when tools were developed from flint and obsidian. They are considered the oldest surgical instruments. Tremendous changes have occurred in their design and shape over the last 10 decades. With the development of science and technology, they are becoming faster and sharper day by day. Obsidian surgical scalpels are still in use, but most are now made of stainless steel with coatings of polymers and gemstones. All of them are designed specifically with safety features in mind.

Types:

They can be classified into three types based on blade type:

  1. Retractable blade: These are the scalpels that can automatically close when not in use.
  2. Fixed-blade: They have an immovable blade.
  3. Single-use/disposable: They are used only once and then discarded.

They have also some other forms, which may include:

Harmonic Scalpel:

A harmonic Surgical Scalpel falls into the category of accessory instruments. This is also known as an ultrasound scalpel. It is a device that consists of three main parts: a wrench, a cord, and a disposable handpiece. It must be sterilized before and after packaging by the manufacturers.

Scalpel Handles and Blades:

These are two different exchangeable parts of the scalpel that fall into the category of cutting and dissecting instruments. They are both precisely designed to fit into one another for making a specific incision. They have a variety of sizes and shapes. Some of the examples are given below:

1.      Handles:

·         No. 3: It is also known as the No. 3 Knife Handle and No. 3 Handle. It consists of a variety of blade sizes: 10, 11, 12, and 15.

·         No. 3 long: It is also known as a long scalpel or long handle. It consists of the same size of blade, but it cuts wounds more deeply.

·         No. 7: It is also known as the No. 7 knife handle or the No. 7 handle. It is used to hold the specific sizes of scalpel blades. It consists of blade no. 10, 11, 12, and 15.

·         No. 4: It is also known as the No. 4 knife handle and No. 4 handle. It can accommodate large-size blades such as blades 20, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25. It makes larger and deeper incisions in heavy tissues.

2.      Blades:

·         10 Blade: It is an extensive body blade with a curved cutting edge to the tip. It is used for microincisions.

·         11 Blade: It has a tip that is very sharp and angled.

·         12 Blade: It is also known as a sickle knife or tonsil blade. The blade is very small and is crescent-shaped.

·         15 Blade: It is a small, narrow blade with a rounded tip. It is specially designed for making precise incisions. It is used for plastic or reconstructive surgery.

Uses of Scalpels:

  • It is used to divide tissues by providing ultrasonic energy between the jaws. A sponge is necessary during this procedure for the removal of extra blood or tissues that may appear on the jaws.
  • It is used to make small incisions on the skin.
  • It is used to puncture the skin or to open blocked vessels.
  • It is used for the treatment of cleft palate, septoplasties and tonsillectomies, urethrolithotomies and pyelolithotomies.

Caution:

  • A scalpel surgical should not be retrieved from a surgeon’s hand after use before he or she places it in the neutral zone.
  • A needle holder should be used to load or unload a blade from the handle. The use of fingers for this purpose is strictly prohibited.
  • Blades should be packaged with great care to prevent any kind of injury.
  • Trays should be used for passing scalpels during the operations to avoid accidental damage.
  • They should always be sterilized before or after use.

Conclusion:

Surgical scalpels are the most prevalent instruments for surgeons. They were first used as medical knives, but with the advancement in science and technology, they are now designed with separate handles and blades for more efficient use. They are single-patient-use items that should be sterilized before and after packaging.

 Please visit our website, Dynamic Medical Solutions, for more information.