NCM 112 Activity

3A

SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS

I. CUTTING AND DISSECTING

~ Cutting and dissecting instruments are sharp and are used to cut body tissue or surgical
supplies. FUNCTIONS
A. KNIFE HANDLES deep knife Scalpel #: 7 It is used to cut
deep, delicate
Blade #: 15 tissue.

inside knife Scalpel #: 3 It is used to cut

superficial tissue.
Blade #: 10

skin knife Scalpel #: 4 It is used primarily for

making large skin
Blade #: 20 incisions,
e.g., in laparotomy.

Instruments Functions
B. SCISSORS

7. MAYO STRAIGHT MAYO STRAIGHT – It is used for cutting ligatures, sutures

and supplies. It is also used for removing sutures of incisions.

8. MAYO CURVE MAYO CURVE – It is used to cut the ligatures or other suture
material. It is also used to cut heavy tissues and internal
organs so that adjacent tissues are protected while using it.
(i.e. fascia, muscle, uterus, breast)

9. METZENBAUM
METZENBAUM – It is used to cut delicate tissues and for
blunt dissection. Also called “Metz” in practice.
II. CLAMPING and OCCLUDING
~ Clamping and occluding instruments are used to compress blood vessels or hollow organs for
hemostasis or to prevent spillage of contents.
Instruments Functions
10. HEMOSTAT

HEMOSTAT – is used to clamp blood vessels or tag sutures.

Its jaws may be straight or curved.

Other name: crile, snap or stat

11.
A mosquito is used to clamp small blood vessels.  Its
jaws may be straight or curved.

BONUS

12. KELLY CURVE

13. HEMOSTAT (CURVED) A Kelly is used to clamp larger vessels and tissue
14. MOSQUITO (CURVED)
Burlisher A burlisher is used to clamp deep blood vessels.  
Other names: Schnidt tonsil forcep, Adson Burlishers have two closed finger rings.  Burlishers
forcep. with an open finger ring are called tonsil hemostats.

RIGHT ANGLE – it is used to clamp hard-to-reach vessels

and to place sutures behind or around a vessel. A right
angle with a suture attached is called a “tie on a passer.”

15. RIGHT ANGLE (MIXTER)

HEMOCLIP APPLIER WITH HEMOCLIPS – It applies metal

16. HEMOCLIP APPLIER WITH HEMOCLIPS clip onto blood vessels and ducts which will remain
occluded.

Carmalt Clamp

Larger than a kelly clamp and often confused

with the Peon Clamp of the same size; Carmalt
clamps have the characteristic jaw structure
pictured.

17. VASCULAR CLAMP

VASCULAR CLAMP – It used to reduce the flow of blood
through the aorta, veins, and vessels during vascular
surgery.
III. GRASPING and HOLDING
~ Grasping and holding instruments are used to hold tissue, drapes or sponges.
Instruments Functions

18. ALLIS
ALLIS – It is used to grasp tissue. Available in short and
long sizes.

19. BABCOCK BABCOCK – It is used to grasp delicate tissue (intestine,

fallopian tube, and ovary). Available in short and long
sizes.

KOCHER – It is used to grasp heavy tissue. May also be

20. KOCHER (OCHSNER) used as clamp. The jaw may be straight or curved.
21. FOERSTER SPONGE STICK FOERSTER SPONGE STICK – It is used to grasp sponges.
(SPONGE FORCEP)

Dissector

A dissector is used to hold a peanut. Backhaus towel clip

22. BACKHAUS TOWEL CLIP (TOWEL CLIP) BACKHAUS TOWEL CLIP – It is used to hold towels and
drapes in place.

23. Pickup with teeth: TISSUE TISSUE - It is used to grasp the skin. It is also used for
24. Pickup without teeth: THUMB wound dressing.

THUMB - It is used to grasp delicate tissue. (vein)

 RUSSIAN TISSUE FORCEPS - used for grasping heavy or
25. RUSSIAN TISSUE FORCEPS
thick tissue. The forceps are straight with a circular cup-
shaped serrated tip, The forceps are also used in wounds
closure procedures.

Bonney Forceps

Often used for grasping fascia during the closure

of abdominal surgery or for closure and suturing
of large orthopedic procedures such as total knee
and total hip replacement surgery.

26. ADSON’S TISSUE FORCEPS

ADSON’S TISSUE FORCEPS - used for handling
dense tissue, such as in skin closures. Also called
locking forceps, these are ratcheted instruments used
to hold tissue or objects, or provide hemostasis.

Smooth forceps

Long smooth pick-ups are called dressing forceps.

Short smooth pick-ups are used to grasp delicate
tissue.

27. DEBAKEY FORCEPS DEBAKEY FORCEPS - a type of atraumatic tissue forceps

used in vascular procedures to avoid tissue damage during
manipulation.
Single tooth forceps,  many teeth forceps
(top to bottom)
Thumb forceps are used to grasp tough tissue
(fascia, breast).   Forceps may either have many
teeth or a single tooth.    Single tooth forceps are
also called "rat tooth forceps."

Short, medium & long

(top to bottom)
Mayo-Hegar needle holders are used to hold
needles when suturing.  They may also be placed in
the sewing category.

IV. RETRACTING and EXPOSING INSTRUMENTS

Retracting and exposing instruments are used to hold back or retract organs or tissue to gain exposure
to the operative site.   They are either "self-retaining" (stay open on their own) or "manual" (held by
hand).  When identifying retractors, look at the blade, not the handle.
Instruments Functions

28. DEAVER RETRACTOR DEAVER RETRACTOR (manual) – is used to retract deep

abdominal or chest incisions.
29. Richardson retractor

30. ARMY-NAVY RETRACTOR ARMY-NAVY RETRACTOR (manual) – is used to retract

shallow or superficial incisions.

Goulet

A goulet (manual) is used to retract shallow or

superficial incisions.

31. MALLEABLE OR RIBBON RETRACTOR MALLEABLE OR RIBBON RETRACTOR – is used to retract

deep wounds. May be bent to various shapes.

32. WEITLANER RETRACTOR WEITLANER RETRACTOR (self-retraining) – is used to

retract shallow incisions.
Gelpi retractor

A Gelpi retractor (self-retaining) is used to retract

shallow incisions. 

33. BALFOUR WITH BLADDER BLADE

BALFOUR WITH BLADDER BLADE – is used to retract
wound edges during deep abdominal procedures.

34. BABY BENNETTE RETRACTOR BABY BENNETTE RETRACTOR – elevating and retracting
bone.

V. SUCTIONING
~ Suctioning of blood and other secretions during surgery.
Instruments Functions

35. FRAZIER SUCTION TIP FRAZIER SUCTION TIP - A thin instrument for removing
fluid and debris from confined surgical sites such as the
nasal cavity, and lumbar and cervical regions.