Scalpels, surgical: types, features, purpose

There are a large number of fatal diseases that can be transmitted through the blood. To reduce the risk of infection, a single-use cutting tool such as a scalpel has been used in medicine. This surgical device replaced the lancet, and now it is actively used by surgeons around the world. Since it is used to carry out complex operations, the requirements for it are also increased.

What is a scalpel?

This surgical instrument is rightfully considered the number one among similar medical devices and is a knife of small size, through which cuts are made of the soft tissues of the human body. It can be not only disposable, but also reusable. For the manufacture of the latter, medical stainless steel is used, which has an increased resistance to corrosion.

Differing tools can also for more complex alloying or increased chromium content. The difference can be in the design. Surgical scalpels are mainly made foldable so that a new blade can be installed without re-sharpening.

What kinds of scalpels exist?

Such medical instruments can be of the following types:

• Cavitary - have an oval blade, which is sharpened in a semicircle, and a long handle;
• Abdominal - have an arcuate shape with a displaced or equally curved cutting surface;
• Pointed - have a double-edged blade in the form of an arc, both cutting edges converge to the top of the blade evenly;
• Microsurgical - characterized by a thin blade, with a certain ratio of the cutting blade and the length of the handle;
• Delicate scalpels - surgical instruments of this kind have a narrow and short blade;
• Resection - have a curved cutting edge along a steep arc;
• Amputational - the length of the blade relatively wide is rather small. Also there is a groove on the blade.

The scalpel is a surgical sterile, intended for anatomical and general surgical practice, can have different width and length. This allows you to comply with the necessary requirements for the functionality and ergonomics of the surgical instrument and at the same time perform specialized operations, for example, in pediatric surgery, in which the operating field is quite small due to small organs and the size of the child's body.

What is it for?

Scalpel surgical disposable and reusable is used for various medical manipulations.

Cavity scalpels are used for surgical operations in deep wounds.

With the help of the peritoneal, shallow and long incisions are made in fat, muscle and skin tissues. It is also used for operations on the dissection of cartilage, joints and ligaments, since in this case it is required to exert some effort on the handle and neck of the instrument. Applied for joint and general surgical operations.

Pointed scalpels are used for operations in areas that require puncture of tissues - skin, muscle, connective, fatty, mucous, as well as puncture of the walls of hollow organs, such as the bladder, rectum and others. With the help of such a tool, small but deep cuts are made.

Microsurgical scalpels are used to perform otolaryngological, vascular, ophthalmic and plastic operations requiring very precise cuts.

Delicate surgical knives are used for operations in ophthalmology, plastic and maxillofacial surgery, for urological and dental operations.

To cut such dense tissues as cartilages, ligaments, periosteum, capsules of joints, use resection scalpels.

Surgical amputation tools are used for amputation of limbs, as well as tissue preparation, when the human anatomy is studied and surgical skills are practiced.

What material is the scalpel used for?

Steel is the basic material from which this tool is made. The reusable scalpel is made of stainless medical steel. One-time knives have such a high resistance to corrosion completely useless, so they are made of hardened chrome steel by the method of cold stamping.

Scalpels of reusable use contain a large amount of chromium. The blades of instruments that are intended for ophthalmic operations are made of ceramics or leucosapphire, as well as stellites having a thick diamond coating.

About the "smart scalpel" for surgical operations

Recently, a new device has been introduced into medical practice that can be described as an "intelligent scalpel". He is able to analyze the smoke rising at the moment of cutting or cauterizing the operated tissue with an electrosurgical knife. With the help of such a tool, doctors are able to determine during the operation the presence of cancer cells in the tissues they remove.

Scalpel surgical: price

The cost of this medical tool depends on its purpose. The cheapest single-use knife costs about 8 rubles, and the most expensive one, the bellied one, has a price of 445 rubles. You can buy them in pharmacies or medical stores.

Conclusion

Scalpels are surgical instruments designed for operations. With the help of them, cuts of various organs and tissues of the human body are performed. There are disposable and reusable uses. Any medical institution is equipped with this tool, which is selected in accordance with the direction of activity of such an organization.