A scalpel usually consists of a blade and a handle. The blade usually has a cutting edge and a mounting groove for docking with the handle of the scalpel, and the material is usually made of pure titanium, titanium alloy, stainless steel or carbon steel, and is usually disposable. The blade is used to cut through skin and muscle during dissection, the tip is used to trim blood vessels and nerves, and the handle is used for blunt separation. According to the size of the wound need to choose the appropriate type of blade and handle. Because the general scalpel has the characteristic of ‘zero’ damage to the tissue after cutting, it can be used in various surgeries, but its wound bleeding is active after cutting, so it should be used in the surgery with more bleeding in a controlled manner.

According to the form of connection between the blade and the handle, there are two types of scalpels: detachable scalpels and fixed scalpels, of which detachable scalpels are more commonly used.

Types

1. Blade handle models

Commonly, there are No.3, No.3 extension, No.4, No.4 extension, No.7, No.9, 18CM upper curved, 18CM lower curved (the model number is engraved on the end).

2. Blade model

Commonly used are 10-27, 34, 36 (the model number is engraved at the root).

3. Usage

Usually, No. 10 and No. 20-24 blades are used to cut skin, subcutaneous, muscle, periosteum and other tissues; No. 11 blade is used to cut blood vessels, nerves, gastrointestinal and cardiac tissues; No. 12 blade is used for knee and pancreatic surgeries; and No. 15 blade is used to cut deep tissues and tissues for ophthalmology and coronary artery bypass grafting.

There are two ways to replace the blade: one is freehand replacement; the other is instrument replacement.

1.unarmed replacement: when installing a new blade, hold the handle in your left hand, grab the back side of the blade with your right hand, first make the shallow grooves on both sides of the top of the handle and the narrow part of the upper end of the blade's centre hole articulate, and then gently press backward on the blade, so that the blade will fall into the grooves at the front end of the handle.

1. Unarmed replacement: when installing a new blade, hold the handle in your left hand, grasp the back side of the blade with your right hand, make the shallow grooves on both sides of the top of the handle and the narrow part of the upper end of the blade's centre hole converge, and then gently press backward on the blade, so that the blade will fall into the grooves at the front end of the handle.

2. Replacement of instruments: Use hemostatic forceps or needle forceps to hold the blade to complete the replacement. Be careful not to relax the clamping and not to exert too much force.