Clamps A clamp is used on vessels to

Clamps § A clamp is used on vessels to stop bleeding. Many sizes and types are available. In a general surgical tray, the clamps are used for small vessels. Larger vessels require specialized clamps that will not crush the artery or vein. Clamps are also known as hemostats.

§ Retractors hold organs and tissue away from the surgical site so that the surgeon can see clearly and have room to operate. A general surgical tray will have about seven different sizes and types of retractors. Some retractors are self-retaining, or handsfree. These retractors can lock into position so that the surgeon and assistant have their hands free to work.

§ This instrument looks like tweezers, and is used to grasp tissue for suturing or to hold it out of the way. There are many versions and sizes used in all types of surgery. Some of the "holding" forceps look more like a clamp, but have a shape at the end that can grasp tissue or small vessels.

§ Scissors are used to cut delicate tissue, muscle, vessels, wire and suture. Knife handles fitted with differently sized razors for incisions are called scalpels. Other instruments may be used to cut bone, including hand saws and power tools. §

§ These instruments are used to hold the needles to which sutures are attached. They range from 24 inches to just a couple of inches in length, depending on the type of surgery for which they're needed.

A curette is a surgical instrument designed for scraping or debriding biological tissue or debris in a biopsy, excision, or cleaning procedure. In form, the curette is a small hand tool, often similar in shape to a stylus; at the tip of the curette is a small scoop, hook, or gouge. The verb to curette means "to scrape with a curette", and curettage is treatment that involves such scraping.

§ As the name suggests, this surgical instrument is mainly used to cut body tissues. Scissors used in surgery come in two main types: Mayo and Metzenbaum scissors. When it comes to cutting or dissecting soft delicate tissues, surgeons prefer the metzenbaum scissors. The Mayo scissors are used for cutting hard tissues such as joints. Thick tissues located in the breast and the muscles can also be cut using Mayo scissors. Usually, these scissors are made up of stainless steel and are manufactured in variable lengths.

§ A probe is a long, flexible surgical tool that has a blunt end and is used for probing a wound and body cavities such as sinus tract. The instrument helps to evaluate the wound such as how deep the wound is. The direction of wound can also be assessed using this tool. As the instrument is inserted in the wound or cavity, excessive usage can trigger pain and cause pain in patients.

§ Curette This surgical tool resembling to a spoon is used for taking out unwanted tissue from internal body cavities. Using the tool, the surgeon simply scrapes to scoop out the abnormal tissue. Cleaning procedure such as removing cancer growth may require use of curette.

§ During any surgical procedure, some amount of bleeding is a given. A slight incision here and there is followed by bleeding. In order to prevent any sort of major complications, the surgeon often uses a hemostat. This is a clamp-like surgical tool that is utilized to constrict a blood vessel, which helps to minimize or stop the flow of blood during any surgical procedure.