Surgical Instruments

Sponge Forceps
Used to hold gauze squares or sponge to “mop up” the surgical site
Jaws are serrated

Transfer Forceps
When sterile, transfer
forceps;
arrange items on sterile tray
transfer items to sterile field

Splinter Forceps
Fine tip for foreign object retrieval

Walter Splinter Forceps
Very fine tip
Spear-head design

1x2 Toothed Tissue Forceps
Used for grasping and holding tissue, muscle or skin surrounding a wound
Single toothed on one side; fits between two teeth on the other side
Available as 1x2 or 2x3 or 3x4

Plain Thumb Forceps
Used to hold tissue in place when applying sutures
Used to gently move tissues out of the way during exploratory surgery
Used to insert packing into or remove objects from deep cavities

Curved Mosquito Hemostat
Used to hold delicate tissue
Used to compress bleeding vessels
Jaws are fully serrated

Kelly Hemostat
Used to clamp small vessels or hold tissue
Jaws are partially serrated
Curved or straight

Needle Holder
Used to hold and pass a suturing needle through tissue
Has groove to hold needle within jaws

Towel Clamp
Adds weight to drapes and towels to ensure they stay in place
Allow exposure of the operative site

Skin Hook
Flat end is a blunt retractor
Three-prong end may be sharp to dull
Used to retract small incisions or secure a skin edge for suturing

Iris Suture Scissors
Used to remove sutures
Blade has beak or hook to slide under sutures

Scalpel Holder
Holds scalpel blade
Acts as a handle

Lister Bandage Scissors
Used to remove bandages and dressings
Probe tip is blunt; inserted under bandages with relative safety

Sharp/Sharp Scissors
Used to cut and dissect tissue
Both blade tips are sharp

Sharp/Blunt Scissors
Used to cut and dissect fascia and muscle
One blunt tip and one sharp tip

Curved Blunt/Blunt Scissors
Both blade tips are blunt
Can be curved or straight

Ear Curette
Can have sharp or blunt scraper ends
Used to remove ear wax from ear canal

Nasal Speculum
Used to spread nostrils during examination

Anoscope with Obturator
Used to visualize the rectum and lumen of the sigmoid colon
Used to examine anal canal and distal aspect of the rectum
Consists of a stylus or removable plug (Obturator) used during the insertion of many tubular instruments (Anoscope).