There are many deadly diseases that can be transmitted through the blood. To reduce the risk of infection, a single-use cutting tool such as a scalpel began to be used in medicine. This surgical device replaces the lancet, and is currently actively used by surgeons around the world. Since it is used to carry out complex operations, the requirements for it are increased.
What is a scalpel?
This surgical instrument is rightfully considered the number one among such medical devices and is a small knife with the help of which cuts of the soft tissues of the human body are carried out. It can be not only disposable, but also reusable. For the manufacture of the latter, medical stainless steel is used, which has increased resistance to corrosion.
Tools can also differ in more complex alloying or increased chromium content. The difference may be in the design. Surgical scalpels are generally collapsible so that a new blade can be installed without being re-sharpened.
What types of scalpels are there?
Such medical instruments may be of the following types:
- abdominal - have an oval blade, which is sharpened in a semicircle, and a long handle;
- abdominal - have an arched shape with a displaced or evenly extruded cutting surface;
- pointed - they 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 cutting edge bent along a steep arc;
- amputation - the length of the blade relative to the width is quite small. There is also a gutter on the blade.
A sterile surgical scalpel, designed for anatomical and general surgical practice, can have different widths and lengths. This allows you to comply with the necessary requirements for the functionality and ergonomics of a surgical instrument and at the same time carry out specialized operations, for example, in pediatric surgery, in which the surgical field can be quite small due to small organs and the size of the child’s body.
What is it for?
The surgical scalpel is disposable and reusable used for various medical procedures.
Cavity scalpels are used for surgical operations in deep wounds.
With the help of the abdominal, shallow and long incisions are made in the fat, muscle and skin tissues. It is also used for dissection of cartilage, joints and ligaments, since in this case it is necessary to apply some effort to the handle and neck of the instrument. Used for joint and general surgery.
Pointed scalpels are used for operations in areas that require puncture of tissues - skin, muscle, connective, fatty, mucous membranes, as well as puncture of the walls of hollow organs, such as the bladder, rectum and others. With the help of such a tool, narrow but deep cuts are made.
Microsurgical scalpels are used to perform otolaryngological, vascular, ophthalmic and plastic surgeries requiring very precise incisions.
Delicate surgical knives are used for operations in ophthalmology, plastic and maxillofacial surgery, for urological and dental operations.
To dissect dense tissues such as cartilage, ligaments, periosteum, joint capsules, resection scalpels are used.
Surgical amputation instruments are used to amputate the limbs, as well as to prepare tissues when studying human anatomy and practicing surgical skills.
What material is a surgical scalpel made of?
Steel is the main material from which this tool is made. The reusable scalpel is made of stainless medical steel. Disposable knives have such a high resistance to corrosion is completely useless, so they are made of hardened chrome steel by cold stamping.
Reusable scalpels contain large amounts of chromium. The blades of instruments intended for ophthalmic operations are made of ceramics or leucosapphire, as well as stellites having a thick diamond coating.
About the smart scalpel for surgery
Recently, a new device has begun to be introduced into medical practice, which can be described as a “smart scalpel”. He is able to analyze smoke rising at the moment of incision or cauterization of the operated tissue with an electrosurgical knife. Using this tool, doctors are able to determine during the operation the presence of cancer cells in the tissues they remove.
Surgical scalpel: price
The cost of this medical tool depends on its purpose. The cheapest disposable knife costs about 8 rubles, and the most expensive, bellied, has a price of 445 rubles. You can buy them at pharmacies or medical equipment stores.
Conclusion
Scalpels are surgical instruments designed for operations. With the help of them, sections of various organs and tissues of the human body are performed. Disposable and reusable. Any medical institution is equipped with this tool, which is selected in accordance with the direction of activity of such an organization.