Surgical instruments are the necessary components of medical operations, assisting the surgeon in conducting surgical operations efficiently. The surgical instruments have specific functions, from cutting and dissecting to clamping and retracting. In this short guide, let us talk about 25 most dominant surgical instruments, their names, and their primary functions.

List of 25 Surgical Equipment Names:

1. Scalpel

Scalpel is a small, short-bladed incisive tool that comes with detachable blades (No. 10, 11, 15, etc.) to conduct specific surgeries.

Uses:

• Construction of soft tissue incisions
• Surgery involving minute details

2. Surgical Scissors

Surgical scissors are scissors designed specifically for cutting tissue, sutures, or material in an operating room.

Types & Uses:

• Mayo Scissors: Trim thick tissues, fascia, and sutures.
• Metzenbaum scissors: Ideal for fine tissue dissection.
• Iris Scissors: Applied for precise cuts in ophthalmic and neurological surgeries.

3. Forceps

Forceps are tweezers-like apparatus employed to capture, retain, or maneuver tissue and objects.

Types & Usage:

• Tissue Forceps: Equipped with teeth for keeping skin and tissue firmly.
• Dressing Forceps: Applied in handling dressings or thin tissue.
• Adson Forceps: Applied in order to capture thin tissue for suturing.

4. Hemostats (Clamps)

Hemostats are clamping surgical instruments used to arrest bleeding by constricting blood vessels.

Types & Uses:

• Mosquito Hemostats: To be used on small blood vessels.
• Kelly Hemostats: To be used on large blood vessels and tissues.
• Crile Hemostats: Like Kelly but fully serrated for better grip.

5. Needle Holders

Needle holders are designed to hold and handle needles during suturing of tissues.

Types & Uses:

• Mayo-Hegar Needle Holder: Most commonly used in general surgeries.
• Crile-Wood Needle Holder: More delicate grip, ideal for delicate procedures.

6. Retractors

Retractors are used to keep the tissues separated so that there is greater visibility and access to the surgical site.

Types & Uses:

• Weitlaner Retractor: For orthopedic and spinal surgery.
• Senn Retractor: For minor surgery to retract soft tissues.
• Army-Navy Retractor: For general surgery to use for deep retraction.

7. Towel Clamps

Surgical towels and drapes are held in place by towel clamps to preserve a sterile field.

Types & Uses:

• Backhaus Towel Clamp: All-purpose, with sharp points to hold.
• Jones Towel Clamp: Spring type and lighter for sensitive procedures.

8. Suction Devices

Suction devices aid in the removal of blood, debris, and fluid from the surgical area.

Types & Applications:

• Yankauer Suction: General surgery and general suction.
• Poole Suction: Abdominal surgery to drain large amounts of fluid.

9. Bone Cutting Instruments

Orthopedic, neurosurgery, and reconstructive surgery use bone-cutting instruments.

Types & Applications:

• Gigli Saw: Wire saw flexible instrument in amputations.
• Osteotome: To trim and mold the bone.
• Ronguers: In order to take small nips of bone.

10. Rongeurs

Rongeurs are heavy surgical instruments employed for cutting and removing tiny pieces of bone.

Uses:

• Used in orthopedic, neurosurgery, and spinal surgery to excise bone.

11. Curettes

Curettes are spoon instruments employed for scraping or debridement of tissues.

Uses:

• For excising abnormal tissue growths.
• Scraping soft tissue and bone during operation.

12. Elevators

Elevators are utilized for lifting or separating bones and tissues.

Types & Uses:

• Periosteal Elevator: Employed in orthopedic and dental surgery.
• Freer Elevator: Employed in nasal surgery.

13. Trocars

Trocars are pointed, sharp tools that are utilized in order to access body cavities, sometimes incorporating a cannula.

Applications:

• Utilized for laparoscopic procedures in inserting instruments.

14. Cannulas

Cannulas are hollow, tube-shaped instruments that serve to insert fluid or drain fluids from the body.

Applications:

• Liposuction cannulas are employed to remove fat.
• Tracheal cannulas facilitate breathing.

15. Dilators

Dilators are utilized to dilate ducts or openings step-wise.

Types & Applications:

• Hegar Dilators: Used in gynecological surgeries.
• Bougie Dilators: Used in esophageal dilatation.

16. Probes

Probes help probe body cavities and wounds.

Uses:

• Foreign bodies in wounds.
• Fistulas or sinus tracts examination.

17. Speculums

Speculums assist in opening body cavities to view better.

Types & Uses:

• Vaginal speculum: Employed in gynecology tests.
• Nasal Speculum: Employed in ENT procedures.

18. Bone Chisels

Bone chisels assist in cutting and sculpting bones during orthopedic and neurosurgical operations.

Applications:

• Applied in osteotomies and bone grafting.

19. Bone Curettes

Bone curettes help in the excision of sick bone or cartilage.

Uses:

• Used in orthopedic and spinal surgeries.

20. Catheters

Catheters are soft tubes that are inserted into body channels to drain fluids.

Uses:

• Urinary catheters assist in draining the bladder.
• Cardiac catheters aid in heart operations.

21. Laryngoscope

A laryngoscope is employed to view the larynx and vocal cords.

Uses:

• Used in intubation and airway operations.

22. Dermatome

A dermatome is employed to take thin skin layers for grafting.

Applications:

• Applied in plastic and reconstructive surgery.

23. Cautery Instruments

Electrocautery instruments assist in controlling bleeding by applying heat.

Applications:

• Applied in coagulation and tissue destruction.

24. Bandage Scissors

Bandage scissors are made to cut bandages and dressings.

Applications:

• Removal of dressings without causing damage to the skin.

25. Tenotomy Scissors

Delicate scissors are employed for minor surgeries, particularly in ophthalmology.

Applications:

• Cutting delicate tendons and soft tissues.

Conclusion

Surgical instruments are the pillar of contemporary medical operations, providing surgeons with the tools to conduct procedures carefully and accurately. Ranging from cutting instruments such as scalpels and scissors to clamping instruments such as hemostats, every piece of equipment contributes to successful operations.

Retractors provide increased visibility, forceps help hold tissues that are thin, and suction devices maintain the field clear of obstacles, all contributing to patient safety and better outcomes.

The awareness of these 40 common surgical instruments names benefits medical staff, students, and health enthusiasts to realize the precision and complexity of surgery. In general surgery, orthopedics, neurosurgery, or ENT surgery, every one of the surgical instruments has a special role to play.

With advancements in medical technology, surgical instruments are also changing for the betterment of patient care and surgery techniques. Getting familiar with these important surgical instruments names makes us appreciate the science and art of surgery more.