Surgical Scalpels
Surgical
scalpels are very sharp knives used for surgery. They are fine blades with
handles used where extremely fine cutting is required. Scalpels were in use
since a long period of time. Greek and roman surgeons were using scalpels
even before 6th century BC. The scalpels used that time were almost of the
same shape and size as today's but with little modifications. The shape and
size of the handle and the blade suggest that they could be used for
precision and delicate cuts and incisions.
Components of surgical scalpels
Scalpels have two components -handles and blades used to incise or excise
soft tissues, and come in various sizes and shapes. The use of each type
depends upon the type and accessibility of the tissue to be cut.
Surgical Scalpel Blades
The blades on scalpels are extremely sharp, merely touching a medical
scalpel with bare hands to test it, will cut through the skin. Medical
scalpel blades are gradually curved and angled for greater precision when
cutting through tissue. They are made of specialized material like obsidian,
medical grade fine steel or diamond knife blade. They are appropriately
notched to fit into the scalpel handles. Diamond knife blades are the
highest precision blades. These blades are extremely sharp, requiring
minimum pressure for precision cutting. Obsidian is a more economical
version of the same but the material is comparatively more fragile. Carbon
steel is now quite common in practice.
Surgical Scalpel Handles
Stainless Steel knife handle are easily gripped, are light in weight,
adaptable and can be autoclaved. The surgical scalpel handles are shaped as
per the incision to be made. Flat handles or rounded ones can be used for
all types of incisions. The round scalpel handles are preferred for rounded
or curved cuts. Apart from straight and rounded scalpel handles, an array of
their combinations have been created for specialized cuts and maneuvers.
Each combination is given a different name like beaver handle, Castroviejo
blade breaker, and the Siegel handle. The blades are generally presterilized
and disposable. They should be discarded after one use. The blade material
may be obsidian (a volcanic glass) or conventional steel or diamond knife.
The blades should be attached or removed using hemostatic forceps or scalpel
blade removers.
Types of surgical scalpels
- Reusable scalpels: Re-usable scalpels come with attached,
re sharpenable blades or with non-attached, replaceable blades. The
blades should be attached or removed using hemostatic forceps or
scalpel blade removers. The handles can be sterllized and used
again.
- Disposable scalpels: These are single use scalpels.
Disposable scalpels usually come with a plastic or metal handle with
an extensible blade, like for instance, a utility knife and are used
once. The scalpel or the blade is discarded after one use.
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Scalpel Blade Removers
Scalpel blades need to be removed cautiously to avoid damage to the blade,
avoid cuts and infections. This can be done using blade removers. The
Scalpel Blade Removers are sturdy stainless steel instruments and ensure
safety. Though they are of different types the basic procedure remains the
same. The blade part is inserted in the remover and sideways pressure
exerted to detach the blade from the handle. A simple and effective way to
avoid cuts during removal.
Protective sheath in disposable surgical scalpels
A protective sheath for a disposable surgical scalpel consists of least
three modes of operation:
- A protective mode: In the protective mode, the locking
strip of the scalpel resides in a second opening of the sheath which
keeps the sheath immobile when the scalpel blade is not in use.
- An open mode: In this mode, the locking strip of the
scalpel handle is found in one opening of the sheath to keep the
sheath immobile during use of the scalpel blade.
- A permanently locked mode: In this mode, a button which
is connected to the sheath is depressed into the second opening and
engages the locking strip, which in turn prevents the blade from
being used and allows the scalpel to be safely disposed.
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