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Introduction Hemostatic Forceps & Their Use in Labs
October 17, 2023
Introduction to Hemostatic Forceps
Hemostatic forceps, also called ring forceps or hemostats, are common surgical instruments used in medical, veterinary, and laboratory settings to control bleeding during procedures. Hemostats are used to clamp blood vessels, tissues, or other small structures, effectively minimizing blood flow during surgical procedures. Hemostats prevent excessive bleeding for the subject and offer a clear view of the surgical site for the operator. Here’s a brief introduction to the features and uses of hemostatic forceps in a laboratory setting.
Features of Hemostatic Forceps
Hemostatic forceps are hinged and look like ring scissors. Hemostats can be distinguished by their locking mechanism, the texture and shape of their tips, and the ratchet.
Locking Mechanism
Frequently, hemostatic forceps have a locking mechanism called a ratchet, which is used for clamping. This frees the operator’s hands. The jaws of the locking forceps gradually come together as each increment of the ratchet is employed. Locking hemostatic forceps may be called clamps and are used to securely hold tissue, but when they are used to control blood flow, they are called hemostats. For especially delicate operations, generally ring handles with a locking ratchet are preferred over thumb forceps.
Fine Teeth or Grooves
The jaws of hemostatic forceps are often serrated, featuring fine teeth or grooves. These serrations help to grip tissues securely without causing excessive damage. The design of the serrations can vary. For example, Kelly hemostats and Rochester forceps look similar, but Kelly hemostats have shorter serrations and Rochester hemostats can reach a little deeper. Rochester-Carmalt forceps have longitudinal serrations with cross-hatching at the tip, giving them the nickname of stars and stripes forceps.
Curved or Straight Tips
Hemostats come in various tip configurations, such as curved, straight, or angled. The choice of tip design depends on the specific procedure and the anatomy of the subject area. For example, Mosquito hemostats clamp small blood vessels, and Kelly hemostats can be used to clamp larger vessels or grasp tissue.
Ratchet Control
The ratchet mechanism allows for adjustable pressure, so you can control the degree of clamping force applied. This is particularly important when working with delicate tissues.
Popular Hemostats
Here’s a list of some popular hemostat styles:
- Halsted Mosquito Forceps, or more simply Mosquito Forceps, are used for delicate procedures in areas with limited space. They have small, serrated jaws with straight or curved tips. Even smaller Micro Mosquito Forceps are available.
- Kelly Hemostatic Forceps are like Halsted Mosquito Forceps but with larger jaws. Their tips have finer serrations.
- Crile Hemostatic Forceps are like Kelly forceps but with transverse serrations along the entire length of the jaw. These are used for clamping medium to large blood vessels and tissues.
- Rochester-Péan Hemostatic Forceps have longitudinal serrations along the entire jaw length. They are a heavier pair of forceps with more aggressive gripping capability. These are used for clamping larger blood vessels and tissues.
- Rochester-Carmalt Hemostatic Forceps are similar to Rochester-Péan Forceps. These large, crushing hemostatic forceps are a choice instrument for clamping blood vessels and large tissues or ligating pedicles.
Choose your hemostatic forceps based on your application, and the type of tissue being handled. Using an appropriate hemostat for each task ensures effective hemostasis and tissue manipulation while minimizing tissue trauma. If you have an questions about your surgical instruments, just give us a call at (866) 606-1974 or email us at [email protected].
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