The Surgical Scalpel

Figure 1. Early Roman Bronze Scalpels

Brief: The knife was one of the earliest tools of invention by humans and the tool itself can be applied in many ways. However, the surgical scalpel did not differentiate itself from the rest of the knives until the time of Hippocrates, roughly 300 B.C. He described them as macairion, derived from machaira, an old sword with a broad cutting blade on one edge and a sharp point. Originally scalpels were made of bronze and other easily accessible metals and remained that way until iron and steel became easier to manufacture.

Figure 2. Civil War Era Scalpels

Previously, surgeons had to receive their tools from armorers as there was no dedicated manufacturer for surgical devices. It wasnt until after the Industrial Revolution that independent companies began producing surgical instruments. The most important characteristics in the manufacturing a scalpel are its sharpness and shape. Eventually the disposable razor blade came about and made the use of the scalpel very sanitary as it allowed the blades to be discarded between patients preventing contamination.

Figure 3. Modern Disposable Blade Scalpels

Modern scalpels consist of primarily 2 parts. The handle can be made of varying materials and the blades generally evolved into many allowable shapes to fit many situations. Additionally, scalpels have expanded beyond the scope of medicine alone and have made their way into hobby and crafts. These knives share the same principle but with expanded application. Scalpels continue to be used as one of the earliest and most impactful medical devices.

Use: The surgical scalpel is used primarily to make incisions in the body and create precision cuts along tissues and other flesh. There are 2 primary ways to grip and use the scalpel, the Palmar grip and the Pencil Grip. The Palmar grip is excellent for performing initial incisions and larger cuts. The Pencil Grip allows for more fine cuts with smaller blades.

Additional Information: Scalpel History, General Information, More Information