Special Types Of Surgical Tools & Instruments

Besides the regular scalpels, forceps, and retractors, a wide variety of other surgical instruments are also used in operating rooms. This includes the following.

a) Power Saws

These can have sideways motion or forward backward reciprocating movements for use in operating room situations. Power saws are used during bone cutting requirements. Presence of air power ensures that there is increased safety related to its use in critical conditions. It can drill holes in keeping with the specifications required by the surgeon or allow neat bone slicing when needed. However, it is necessary to remember that power saws do not cut through soft tissues ever. The agility and the lightness associated with these saws allow complete accuracy in operation scenarios.

b) Power Shaver

These specialty surgical instruments are common in operating room scenarios especially in arthroscopic surgery. When it comes to repair of joints and ligaments, Power Shaver allows the surgeon to develop small incisions through eighth minute operation capabilities. This handheld device allows ease of maneuvering and the best possible results.

c) Surgical Drills

Based on the surface on which it is working, surgical drills can be of different types. Their rotary rapid action can easily carve bones or drill holes. Powered by nitrogen, air, or battery, these devices are capable of inserting surgical pins, screws, and wires. Technological innovation is at its highest in the design of surgical drills especially those that deal with operations related to the most sensitive areas of human bodies such as around the ear. Modern day surgical drills are intelligent instruments that can alert surgeons regarding the presence of soft tissues doing away with guesswork needed earlier.

d) Micro-instruments

As the name suggests, these instruments are not visible to the naked eye and many times, you require a microscope or magnification equipment to follow their presence. It involves the use of tiny retractors as well as sutures all done under microscopic conditions for greater visibility. This is a specialized technique and much research is going on to make the micro operating room instruments much more effective while increasing their applications as much as possible.

e) Prosthesis

Prosthesis is a common application related to orthopedic treatments. Nowadays, joint replacements are routine procedures. For example, in such procedures as hip replacement a wide number of tools are in use. It includes power tools, reamers, calipers, and chisels. After the preparation of the bone surface is complete, attachment of prosthesis with the help of glue occurs. While instruments remain the same in other procedures as shoulder and knee surgery, the prosthesis used however is quite different.

f) Dermatome

This specialty instrument is used for taking sections during skin grafting. Its function is slicing away small sections of skin from the surface. Another of the Storz instruments, mesh graft as the name suggests helps in meshing of skin. This occurs through creation of holes on the skin surface. After this, the surgeon grafts the skin section with the help of sutures and keeps the fingers crossed until indications of body acceptance are available.

About The Author

Neil Jackson is a Medical Device Specialist who has been in the industry for more than a decade now. He has been regularly following the leading medical device companies across the globe, especially the U.S. He has also authored quite a few articles in medical journals and loves to share his vast experience and knowledge.