WPI Blog

Safety Precautions to Follow When Using Forceps

Surgical forceps are common handheld surgical instruments used for securely grasping and manipulating an object. In a laboratory environment, they may be used for working with tissues, plants, wafers, or small components. In electronics and manufacturing, they can be use when handling circuit boards, jewelry, watch pieces, and much more. Especially in the medical and laboratory realms, the safe handling of surgical forceps is critical for the safety of both the operator and the subject to minimize the chances of infection or injury.

Why Tungsten Carbide Surgical Instruments are Preferred over Standard Stainless Steel

Tungsten carbide (TC) inserts have revolutionized the field of surgical instrumentation, offering benefits that make them a preferred choice. These inserts, typically made from a combination of tungsten and carbon, exhibit exceptional hardness, strength, and resistance to wear and corrosion, maximizing the lifespan of Surgical scissors, Forceps, and Needle holders.

How to Properly Inspect Surgical Scissors

Protect the investment you have made in surgical instruments and improve the outcomes of your surgeries by regularly inspecting your surgical scissors. Regular inspections ensure that your surgical scissors are in optimal working condition, allowing you to promptly identify and address common issues like dullness, misalignment, or damage. Inspections also help mitigate risks associated with the use of defective or damaged surgical scissors and promotes surgical safety, reducing the likelihood of adverse outcomes. By addressing minor issues early on and following regular cleaning, sterilization, and storage protocols, you can extend the usable lifespan of your surgical instruments, reducing the need for frequent replacements and the associated costs.

Why Disposable Biopsy Punches Are Perfect for Many Applications

The use of Disposable biopsy punches has become routine in a variety of industries, from healthcare to forensic science and manufacturing. These small but crucial instruments offer many benefits, ranging from convenience and sterility to cost-effectiveness and reliability.

Disposable biopsy punches are often preferred over reusable biopsy punches because of their convenience and cost-effectiveness. Reusable punches require sterilization between uses, which takes time and resources. Disposable punches streamline your workflow efficiency and enable you to focus your efforts on your results. For high-volume procedures, this can be critical.

VIDEO: How to Replace the Staple Cassette in the Skin Stapler

The WPSS01 skin stapler is an affordable, reliable solution for veterinary wound closures. A skin stapler is designed for the efficient closure of surgical incisions or wounds by applying surgical staples to the skin, reducing surgery time and time under anesthesia. Each disposable skin staple cassette contains at least thirty-five (35) 316L stainless steel staples.

Each reusable skin stapler handle is provided sterile with one disposable staple cassette already loaded into the handle. Discard the disposable staple cassette after the procedure. The reusable handle may be cleaned and resterilized (autoclave, EO) for subsequent procedures and will effectively deploy at least twenty (20) disposable staple cassettes and withstand at least twenty (20) autoclave cycles.

How to Reduce Strain and Discomfort When Using Lab Scissors

Reducing hand fatigue while using surgical scissors is important, not only for your comfort, but also to maintain the precision of your work. Here are some tips to help reduce strain and minimize hand fatigue.

Kelly Clamps vs. Hemostats: What's the Difference?

Surgical forceps are available in several different grades, including disposable, standard stainless steel, German steel, Swiss made, and titanium. Your choice of instrument grade will depend on your requirements and your budget. Here are some considerations to help you make an informed decision.

Forceps Versus Tweezers: What's the Difference?

Surgical forceps and surgical tweezers are handheld surgical instruments for grasping or clamping, but they serve different purposes and have distinct features. While both are used for manipulating small objects, forceps are typically used in medical and research environments, and tweezers have a broader use in hobbies, daily routine tasks, and mechanical applications. Here we will explore some of the differences between the two, including their construction and uses.

Understanding Dumont Surgical Instruments

Dumont is a well-known brand that specializes in the production of high-quality precision forceps and tweezers for surgical and scientific use, as well as for electronics, jewelry, and other  applications. Dumont surgical instruments, particularly Dumont tweezers, are highly regarded for their precision, craftsmanship, and durability.

The Difference Between Metzenbaum and Mayo Scissors

Metzenbaum and Mayo scissors are both types of surgical scissors, and while they may look similar at first glance, they serve different purposes. Let’s look at the differences between the two scissors styles.

8 Tips to Keep Surgical Scissors Sharp

Keeping your fine surgical scissors sharp is paramount for ensuring clean, efficient cuts. The precision of surgical cuts is crucial to the quick recovery of your subject and for minimizing the chance of infections. These tips will help keep your surgical scissors sharp and ensure a longer life for your instruments.

Affordable Precision: Why WPI’s Economy Disposable Instruments Belong in Every Lab

When every minute counts in the lab, having clean, ready-to-use instruments can make all the difference. That’s why WPI’s Economy Disposable Instruments line is designed for convenience, affordability, and consistency… so researchers and educators can focus on the work that matters most.

What are the Benefits of TEER?

Transepithelial Electrical Resistance (TEER) is a widely used technique in the life sciences fields and therapeutic development. It measures the electrical resistance across a cell monolayer, providing information about the integrity and functionality of epithelial barriers. TEER has proven to be a valuable tool in various fields, including drug absorption studies, tissue engineering, and disease modeling. This article aims to explore the benefits of TEER and its applications in different research areas.

Tips for Choosing the Right Pair of Lab Scissors

EVOM™ Auto High Throughput (HTS) Transepithiel Electrical Resistance (TEER) Measurement System with 24 and 96 transwell capability can switch between different 24 and 96 HTS well plates by using matching electrode arrays and plate positioners. Here we demonstrate how to switch to a 24 transwell plate after using a 96 transwell plate. 

Introduction Hemostatic Forceps & Their Use in Labs

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.

A Brief Introduction to Forceps for Laboratories

Laboratory forceps are surgical instruments that come in a variety of types. Here’s a brief overview to help you choose a set of forceps for your application. Surgical forceps can be divided into two broad categories, thumb forceps (also called tweezers) and hemostatic forceps. Tweezers can be further divided into dressing forceps and tissue forceps.

Custom Surgical Instrument Kits Promote Efficiency & Savings

Building a custom surgical instrument kit gives you the flexibility, precision, and control you need to advance medical knowledge, improve patient outcomes, and push the boundaries of surgical science.

The History & Evolution of Surgical Forceps

Surgical forceps have been used in various forms from ancient times and have evolved into a indispensable instrument for modern surgeries. Forceps are surgical instruments for the practice of medicine which are used for grasping, holding, and manipulating tissues and objects during surgical procedures.

Best Practices for Sterilizing Laboratory Forceps

When it comes to sterilizing lab forceps, it is crucial to follow proper protocols to maintain a sterile environment and prevent cross-contamination. Like other surgical instruments, laboratory forceps may be sterilized by autoclaving, dry heat, or a chemical sterilant. However, forceps are uniquely designed for many specific functions, and a few pointers here can ensure you get the best results.

NOTE: Always follow the manufacturer's instructions and best practices to ensure effective sterilization and maintenance of your lab forceps.

Understanding the Multiple Uses of Hemostatic Forceps

Hemostatic forceps, hemostats, are used primarily to control bleeding during surgical procedures, and they are also used for a variety of other applications. Most hemostatic forceps have ring handles and a ratchet-style, locking mechanism to adjust the tension on the forceps and to keep the jaws clamped in place, maintaining constant pressure on the tissue or blood vessel being occluded. They also have jaws with interlocking serrations or teeth for a secure grip on tissues. The tips of hemostats are often narrow and delicate, allowing for precise manipulation of tissues and vessels. They vary in size, tip shape, type of metal, and function. Here are some applications for which hemostatic forceps are uniquely designed.

How to Care for Your Surgical Instruments

This article shows you how to appropriately care for your surgical insturments to ensure long lasting, highly functioning tools for your application.

A Quick Guide on the Common Uses for Lab Forceps

One of the most common surgical instruments in a laboratory is lab forceps or tweezers. Thumb forceps used in a lab come in various lengths, and the tips can be straight, curved, angled, or angled on the side. They can be made of stainless steel, German steel, Dumoxel, Dumastar, or titanium. They can have smooth tips, serrated tips, or teeth. They are even available with tungsten carbide inserts. Each style has its own purpose.

The Different Surgical Scissors for Every Application

In a life science laboratory, quality surgical scissors are indispensable for dissection, suturing, small animal surgeries, tissue preparation, and more. The variety of surgical scissors can be overwhelming. To help you choose which surgical scissors are right for your application, let’s look at some of our most popular ring handled surgical scissors and their intended uses.

Explore the Difference Between Tissue and Dressing Forceps

Surgical forceps or surgical tweezers are common surgical instruments, but there's a large variety of tweezers to choose from. In general forceps can be grouped as thumb forceps (frequently called surgical tweezers, gripping forceps, non-locking forceps or pinning forceps) or ring forceps (also called hemostats, hemostatic forceps and locking forceps).