Surgical instruments can be generally divided into five classes by function. These classes are:
- Cutting instruments and dissecting: scalpels, scissors, saws.
- Grasping or holding instruments: smooth [anatomical] and toothed [surgical] forceps, towel clamps, vascular clamps, and organ holders.
- Haemostatic instruments: Kocherâs and Billrothâs clamps, hemostatic âmosquitoâ forceps, atraumatic hemostatic forceps, Deschampâs needle, Höpfnerâs hemostatic forceps.
- Retractors:Farabefâs C-shaped laminar hook, blunt-toothed hook, sharp-toothed hook, grooved probe, tamp forceps.
- tissue unifying instruments and materials: needle holders, surgical needles, staplers, clips, adhesive tapes.
Instruments used in general surgery are: