Needle Holder

DESCRIPTION

A needle holder (also called a needle driver) is a specialized surgical instrument used by doctors and veterinarians to hold a suturing needle during the closing of wounds or surgical incisions. Think of it as a highly precise, heavy-duty pair of pliers designed for the delicate art of sewing human tissue.

Key Features

While they might look like standard scissors or hemostats at a glance, needle holders have distinct characteristics:

• The Jaws: Usually short and blunt compared to the handle. The inner surface is often textured (cross-hatched) or lined with Tungsten Carbide inserts to provide a rock-solid grip on the needle so it doesn’t twist or slip.

• The Ratchet: A locking mechanism near the finger rings. This allows the surgeon to “click” the tool shut, maintaining a firm grip on the needle without needing to apply constant hand pressure.

• The Shank: The arms of the instrument. Depending on the depth of the wound, these can be short (for surface stitches) or very long (for deep internal surgery).

• How it’s Used

  1. Grasping: The needle is clamped at the tip of the jaws, usually about one-third of the way from the eye (the “swaged” end).

  2. Driving: The surgeon uses a wrist-rotation motion to drive the curved needle through the tissue.

  3. Locking/Unlocking: The ratchet ensures the needle doesn’t rotate mid-stitch, but it can be released with a quick flick of the fingers to reposition.