Mayo and Metzenbaum

Mayo scissors (B) are used for cutting heavy fascia and sutures. Metzenbaum scissors (A) are more delicate than Mayo scissors. Metzenbaum scissors are used to cut delicate tissues. Metzenbaum scissors have a longer handle to blade ratio. The thumb and ring finger are inserted into the rings of the scissors while the index and middle finger are used to guide the instrument. The instrument should remain at the tips of the fingers for maximum control. The tips of the scissors should be pointing upwards.

Forceps: consist of two tines held together at one end with a spring device that holds the tines open. Forceps can be either tissue or dressing forceps.

Dressing forceps have smooth or smoothly serrated tips.

Tissue forceps have teeth to grip tissue. Many forceps bear the name of the originator of the design, such as Adson tissue forceps. Thumb forceps are held like a pencil. Rat Tooth: A Tissue Forceps

Interdigitating teeth hold tissue without slipping. Used to hold skin/dense tissue.

Adson Tissue Forceps

Small serrated teeth on edge of tips. The Adsons tissue forceps has delicate serrated tips designed for light, careful handling of tissue.

Intestinal Tissue Forceps: Hinged (locking) forceps used for grasping and holding tissue.

Allis: An Intestinal Tissue Forceps

Interdigitating short teeth to grasp and hold bowel or tissue. Slightly traumatic, use to hold intestine, fascia and skin

Babcock: An Intestinal Tissue Forceps

More delicate that Allis, less directly traumatic. Broad, flared ends with smooth tips. Used to atraumatically hold viscera (bowel and bladder).

Sponge Forceps

Sponge forceps can be straight or curved. Sponge forceps can have smooth or serrated jaws. Used to atraumatically hold viscera (bowel and bladder).

Hemostatic forceps: Hinged (locking) Forceps. Many hemostatic

forceps bear the name of the designer (Kelly, Holstead, Crile). They are used to clamp and hold blood vessels.

Classification by size and shape and size of tips

Hemostatic forceps and hemostats may be curved or straight. Kelly Hemostatic Forceps and Mosquito Hemostats

Both are transversely serrated. Mosquito hemostats (A) are more delicate than Kelly hemostatic forceps (B).

Comparison of Kelly and Mosquito tips

Mosquito hemostats (A) have a smaller, finer tip. Carmalt

Heavier than Kelly. Preferred for clamping of ovarian pedicals during an ovariohysterectomy surgery because the serrations run longitudinally.

Doyen Intestinal Forceps

Doyen intestinal forceps are non-crushing intestinal occluding forceps with longitudinal serrations. Used to temporarily occlude lumen of bowel.

Payr Pylorus Clamps

Payr pylorus clamp is a crushing intestinal instrument. Used to occlude the end of bowel to be resected.

Needle holder: Hinged (locking) instrument used to hold the needle while suturing tissue. Good quality is ensured with tungsten carbide inserts at the tip of the needle holder.

Mayo-Hegar

Heavy, with mildly tapered jaws. No cutting blades.

Olsen-Hegar

Includes both needle holding jaw and scissors blades. The disadvantage to having blades within the needle holder is the suture material may be accidentally cut.

Retractors Senn

Blades at each end. Blades can be blunt (delicate) or sharp (more traumatic, used for fascia).

Hohman

Levers tissue away from bone during orthopedic procedures. Weitlaner

Gelpi

Ends can be blunt or sharp. Has rake tips. Ratchet to hold tissue apart.

Has single point tips. Ratchet to hold tissue apart.

Towel clamps secure drapes to a patient's skin. They may also be used to hold tissue. Backhaus Towel Clamp

Locking forceps with curved, pointed tips.