#Laser guided obsidian scalpel skin#
Used for skin incisions in both cardiac and thoracic surgery, and to cut the bronchus in lung resection surgery.įor corner cuts, trimming, stripping, and cutting mats and gasketsĪ front-facing straight blade with flat back (similar to #15a)Ī triangular straight blade with flat back edge taking a downwards angle (similar to #10a, shorter than #26)Ī triangular straight blade with flat back edge taking a downwards angle (similar to the #15a, longer than #25a) Used in general surgery and orthopaedic surgery.Ī slightly larger version of the #20, with a curved cutting edge and a flat, unsharpened back edge. The downward angle makes this the preferred blade for working within the chest during cardiac surgery, and is commonly used to make the distal arteriotomy during coronary artery bypass grafting.Ī narrow chisel-like blade with flat, angled cutting edge, positioned higher than the axis of the handleįor cutting stencils, scoring and etchingĪ larger version of the #10 blade, with a curved cutting edge and a flat, unsharpened back edge. The #15 with a downward angle, flatter and thinner than the #15 Triangular blade with sharp point, flat cutting edge parallel to the handle and flat backįor precision cutting, stripping, sharp angle cuts and also stencil cutting due to its similarity to the X-Acto artknife bladeĭebriding hard skin for example callus by Podiatrists.Ī small, pointed, crescent-shaped blade sharpened on the inside edge of the curveĪ small, pointed, crescent-shaped blade sharpened on both sides of the curveįor the same general use as the #10 bladeĪ front-facing straight blade with flat back Commonly used to cut the skin in abdominal operations. Generally for making incisions in skin and muscle. Types of blades Types of surgical scalpel bladesĬurved cutting edge with an unsharpened back edge. The following table of blades is incomplete and some blades listed may work with handles not specified here. Blades are manufactured with a corresponding fitment size so that they fit on only one size handle. #5 handles are also common, and are round, with a patterning to ensure a non-slip grip. The #7 handle is more like a long writing pen, rounded at the front and flat at the back. The first is a flat handle used in the #3 and #4 handles. The handle of medical scalpels come in several basic types.
Morgan Parker patented the 2-piece scalpel design in 1915 and Bard-Parker developed a method of cold sterilization that would not dull the blades, as did the heat-based method that was previously used. The handle is also known as a "B.P. handle", named after Charles Russell Bard and Morgan Parker, founders of the Bard-Parker Company. Alternatives to scalpels in surgical applications include electrocautery and lasers. Others manufacture blades that are polymer-coated to enhance lubricity during a cut. Scalpel blades are also offered by some manufacturers with a zirconium nitride–coated edge to improve sharpness and edge retention. Historically, the preferred material for surgical scalpels was silver. For example, when performing surgery under MRI guidance, steel blades are unusable (the blades would be drawn to the magnets and would also cause image artifacts). Scalpel blades are usually made of hardened and tempered steel, stainless steel, or high carbon steel in addition, titanium, ceramic, diamond and even obsidian knives are not uncommon.
Double-edged scalpels are referred to as "lancets". Scalpel blades are usually individually packed in sterile pouches but are also offered non-sterile.
Disposable scalpels usually have a plastic handle with an extensible blade (like a utility knife) and are used once, then the entire instrument is discarded. Re-usable scalpels can have permanently attached blades that can be sharpened or, more commonly, removable single-use blades. Scalpels may be single-use disposable or re-usable. The fifth is a lancet.Ī scalpel, lancet, or bistoury is a small and extremely sharp bladed instrument used for surgery, anatomical dissection, podiatry and various arts and crafts (called a hobby knife). The first (from left), second, and fourth have replaceable blades.