Types of Surgical Instruments

Surgical instruments are truly the unsung heroes in medical procedures. From the micro alligator forceps to the heftiest bone rasp, these tools make precision possible. In fact, surgical instrument are the bridge between a surgeon’s intent and actual outcome. I think it’s fair to say you don’t realize how critical they are until you’ve seen a procedure without them. 

Anthony Products has been crafting specialized surgical tools since 1969 and has built a reputation in ENT, plastic surgery, oral maxillofacial, and dermatology circles. Our heritage, straight from the family garage to an international distributor, is quite something, and it adds a layer of trust when you're choosing precision instruments for critical clinical uses. 

Major Categories of Surgical Instruments 

The major categories types of surgical instruments, their functions, and uses in medical procedures for precision, safety, and effective patient care.

Biopsy Punches 

Definition/Purpose 
Designed for quick and accurate removal of small cylindrical shape tissue samples for diagnostic examination.

Variants 

• Standard Biopsy Punches – Seamless stainless steel razor sharp cutting edges for clean, precise specimen.
• Short Handled Biopsy Punches – Designed for hard to reach areas of the body.

Clinical Applications 

• Suspicious Growths – Utilized by dermatologist to diagnosis skin abnormalities including moles, lesions, and skin cancers.
• Chronic Skin Conditions – Evaluation of chronic skin rashes for example psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis.
• Oral Tissue Sampling – Used to identify mouth lesions including ulcers, oral cancers and other suspection abnormalities.

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Bone Instruments 

Definition/Purpose 
Designed to cut, shape, hold, crush or manipulate bone and surrounding tissues during surgical procedures.

Variants 

• Curettes – Designed for scraping or scooping bone tissue with precision.
• Cartilage Bone Crushers – Used for crushing cartilage and bone into smaller fragments for grafting or reconstruction.
• Bone Rongeurs & Cutters – For trimming, cutting, and removing small bone fragments with clean, controlled action.
• Osteotomes & Bone Chisels– Sharp-edged tools ideal for sculpting, splitting, or reshaping bone.
• Bone Mallets – Used with chisels and osteotomes to deliver controlled force for bone cutting and shaping.
• Bone Rasps & Files – For smoothing and contouring bone surfaces.

Clinical Applications 

• Facial Trauma – Essential for plastic and reconstructive physicans when repairing facial damage and correcting abnormalities.
• Mouth & Jaw Procedures – Used by oral and maxillofacial surgeons to treat injuries, and defects of the mouth, jaws, and face.
• Enhance Facial Appearance – Utilized in cosmetic surgery for facelifts, rhinoplasty blepharoplasty, otoplasty, and facial implants.
• ENT Procedures – Used during sinus procedures, mastoid surgery, nasal fracture repair, orbital, and facial trauma reconstruction.
• Musculoskeletal Surgery – Used in orthopedic surgery for fracture repairs, joint replacements, bone grafting, and reshaping bones.

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Dermasurgical Instruments 

Definition/Purpose 
Used for precise manipulation of skin and soft tissue in dermatologic procedures. 

Variants 

• Comedone Extractors – Designed for extracting blackheads and whiteheads.
• Skin Hooks – Fine hooks for gentle retraction of skin during surgery.
• Dermasurgical Scissors (Iris, Tenotomy, etc.) – For delicate cutting of skin or soft tissue.
• Dermasurgical Forceps – Fine-tipped or toothed instruments used for grasping and holding tissue.
• Scalpels & Blades – For precise incisions and excisions of skin lesions or tumors.
• Dermasurgical Needle Holders – Designed for precise control and suture placement.
• Biopsy Punches – Seamless stainless steel razor sharp cutting edges for clean, precise specimen.

Clinical Applications 

• Excision of Lesions – Removal of benign or malignant skin growths such as cysts, moles, or tumors.
• Skin Biopsies – Obtaining tissue samples for accurate pathological diagnosis.
• Acne & Comedone Treatment – Safe extraction of blackheads, whiteheads, and cysts.

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ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) Instruments 

Definition/Purpose 
Specialized surgical tools designed for the diagnosis, treatment, and surgical management of conditions affecting the ear, nose, and throat.

Instrument Variants 

• Ear Specula – Used to widen the ear canal for clear visualization of the middle ear and tympanic membrane.
• Ear Curettes & Loops – Designs for manual safe removeal cerumen extraction, also known as earwax.
• Foreign Body Removal Instruments – Utilized to extract objects stuck inside the ear canal (beads, insects, food particles, etc.)
• Suction Tubes – Precise suction tips for removing debris or fluids from the ear and nasal canals.
• Myringotomy Blades – Specialized blades for incision of the tympanic membrane in middle ear procedures.
• Tuning Forks – Quickly evaluate a patient’s hearing ability without the need for electronic equipment.

Clinical Applications 

• Ear Examination & Cleaning – Visualization of ear canal, removal of cerumen/foreign bodies, and hearing assessment
• Myringotomy/Tympanostomy – Incision of tympanic membrane, insertion of tubes, aspiration of fluid, middle 
• Tympanoplasty – Repair of tympanic membrane and middle ear structures
• Nasal Exams & Procedures – Visualization of nasal passages, dressing placement/removal, correction and reshaping nasal structures.
• Tonsillectomy/Adenoidectomy – Removal of tonsils and adenoids, visualization of larynx and vocal cords, removal of foreign bodies

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Elevators 

Definition/Purpose 
Used to lift, separate, and elevate soft tissue or bone, especially the periosteum, ENT, maxillofacial and plastic surgeries. 

Instrument Variants 

• Periosteal Elevators – Used to separate periosteum (the thin tissue covering bone) from the bone surface.
• Freer Elevators – Multi-purpose elevators commonly used in ENT, plastic, and orthopedic surgeries for soft tissue dissection.
• Cottle Elevators – Primarily used in rhinoplasty and nasal surgeries for cartilage and soft tissue elevation.

Clinical Applications 

• Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery – Tooth extraction, flap reflection, and bone exposure.
• ENT Surgery – Nasal reconstruction, sinus surgery, and tympanoplasty.
• Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery – Delicate tissue lifting for facial procedures and grafts.
• Orthopedic Surgery – Elevating periosteum, handling bone grafts, or separating soft tissue layers.

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Forceps 

Definition/Purpose 
Designed for grasping, holding, manipulating, or extracting tissues and objects during medical procedures.

Variants 

• Tissue Forceps – Grip and stabilize tissue during suturing or dissection.
• Dressing Forceps – Used for handling dressings, sponges, or non-living materials.
• Hemostatic Forceps (Clamps) – Controls bleeding by clamping blood vessels.
• Ears Forceps (Alligators) – Designed for use in the narrow and delicate passages of the ear canal.
• Nasal Forceps – Used for nasal packing, foreign body removal and excising nasal polyps.
• Throat Forceps – Features long shafts to reach deep into the pharynx and larynx without obstructing visibility.
• Ophthalmology Forceps – Extremely fine tipped instruments designed specifically for eye surgery and delicate ocular procedures.
• Plastic Surgery Forceps – Emphasizes precision, control, and minimal tissue trauma during plastic and reconstructive procedures.

Clinical Applications 

• General Surgery – Holding and stabilizing tissues, aiding suturing, and controlling bleeding.
• ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat) – Removing wax, foreign bodies, or polyps; handling dressings; and assisting in ear, nasal, and throat surgeries.
• Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery – aligning delicate skin edges, handling grafts and flaps, and assisting in fine cosmetic closures
• Ophthalmology – Handling delicate eye tissues, removing foreign bodies, and assisting in cataract or retinal surgeries.
• Bleeding Control – applied in virtually all surgical fields for clamping blood vessels to stop bleeding.
• Emergency Medicine – removing foreign bodies and assisting with airway or wound management.

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Fiber‑Optic Surgical Instruments 

Definition/Purpose 
Specialized tools that integrate fiber-optic technology to deliver bright, focused light exactly where the surgeon is working.

Instrument Variants

• Fiber-Optic Retractors – Illuminate the surgical site while retracting tissue during plastic surgery procedures.
• Fiber-Optic Suctions – Provide both illumination and suction for clearing fluids or blood while maintaining visibility.
• Fiber-Optic Nasal Specula – Assists in accessing and illuminating the sinuses.
• Fiber-optic Smoke Evacuation – Clears smoke plume while maintaining a well-lit, unobstructed surgical field.

Clinical Applications 

• Breast Procedures  – Provides deep, illuminated during breast augmentation, reconstruction and mastectomies.
• Facelift & Plastic Surgery – Retracts facial skin and subcutaneous tissue while illuminating the operative field.

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Implant Instruments 

Definition/Purpose 
Tools used in the placement and positioning of surgical implants. 

Variants 

• Insertion forceps
• Marking tools
• Guide devices 

Clinical Applications 

• Breast augmentation
• Facial and nasal implant placement
• Reconstructive plastic surgery 

Measuring Instruments

Definition/Purpose

These tools are used to obtain precise measurements for various applications, ensuring quality control, consistency, and accuracy in work.

Tools

Measuring instruments include devices like calipers, rulers, protractors, measuring tapes, and micrometers designed to determine dimensions, distances, or angles accurately.

Clinical Applications

• Widely used in manufacturing for checking dimensions of parts

• Essential in construction for accurate measurements and alignment

• Applied in engineering to ensure precision in tools and equipment

• Valuable in healthcare for measuring surgical tools and instruments

Nasal Instruments 

Definition/Purpose 
Instruments designed for nasal procedures involving trimming, exposure, or suction. 

Variants 

• Hooks, knives, punches
• Specula, retractors
• Frontal Seekers, trocars 

Clinical Applications 

• Rhinoplasty
• Septoplasty
• Sinus surgeries

Needle Holders 

Purpose 
Hold suturing needles securely during closure. 

Types 

• Standard stainless steel
• Tungsten‑carbide variants for precision and durability

Applications 
Used in all surgical fields; carbide versions are preferred for long-term sharpness. 

Ophthalmology Instruments 

Definition/Purpose 
Delicate tools used in eye surgeries to manipulate ocular tissues with minimal trauma. 

Variants 

• Micro-forceps
• Scissors
• Retractors
• Probes
• Eye shields 

Clinical Applications 

• Cataract and retinal procedures
• Refractive and cosmetic eye surgeries

Plastic Surgery Instruments 

Definition/Purpose 
High-precision instruments tailored for aesthetic and reconstructive surgeries. 

Variants 

• Areola markers
• Dissector tools
• Retractors
• Endoscopic forehead devices 

Clinical Applications 

• Breast augmentation and lifts
• Facial cosmetic surgeries
• Endoscopic brow lifts 

Retractors 

Definition/Purpose 
Hold back tissues or incisions to maintain visibility and access during surgery. 

Variants 

• Deaver, Army-Navy, Richardson
• Self-retaining: Weitlaner, Beckman
• Throat, nasal, ophthalmic, plastic surgery models 

Clinical Applications 

• ENT, orthopedic, general, and plastic surgery
• Tissue separation and cavity access

Scalpel Blades & Handles 

Definition/Purpose 
Used to make precise incisions in tissue. 

Variants 

• Disposable or reusable handles
• Blade types: #10, #11, #15
• Specialty blades: Myringotomy 

Clinical Applications 

• General incisions
• ENT-specific blade sets 

Scissors 

Definition/Purpose 
Cutting tissue, sutures, or materials with surgical precision. 

Variants 

• Bandage, operating scissors
• Mayo, Metzenbaum, Iris
• Ophthalmic, stitch, wire-cutting 

Clinical Applications 

• Tissue dissection
• Suture removal
• Microsurgical procedures 

Skin Hooks 

Definition/Purpose 
Retract skin gently in dermatologic or minor surgical procedures. 

Variants 

• Single and double prong
• Various sizes for fine control 

Clinical Applications 

• Mole excisions
• Cosmetic skin procedures 

Suction Tubes 

Definition/Purpose 
Clear fluids or debris from the operative field. 

Variants 

• Yankauer
• ENT-specific suction instruments 

Clinical Applications 

• Baron Tubes
• Yankauer Tubes
• Oesophageal Tubes
• Vacutract Tubes 

Suture Removal Instruments 

Purpose 
Remove sutures post‑procedure, with minimal tissue trauma. 

Applications 
Outpatient follow‑ups; dermatologic, plastic, or general surgical settings.

Clinical Applications 

• ENT, dermatology, general surgery 

• Maintaining clear surgical visibility 

Specialty Highlights 

Tungsten‑carbide instruments 
Needle holders and scissors often come in tungsten‑carbide tips for durability, sharper grips, longer edge retention. Surgeons appreciate the precision and longevity. 

Myringotomy blades: disposable types 
ENT professionals may choose flat, round, or micro‑edge blades depending on patient need. Anthony Products offers sets specialized for ENT practice. 

Quality & Compliance 

High‑quality surgical instruments are manufactured the clinical standards. Anthony Products emphasizes precision and compliance, offering instruments that withstand sterilization and repeated use, supporting reliability during surgical procedures. 

Why Choose Anthony Products? 

With roots beginning in 1969, Anthony Products has half a century of experience serving ENT, plastic surgery, dermatology, and oral maxillofacial fields. Today, we carry over 100,000 SKUs, and we carry a large and growing catalog of surgical tools trusted by professionals around the world and serve tens of thousands of global customers. 

We offer personalized service: every online order is reviewed manually to catch errors and ensure you get exactly what you need, one‑on‑one customer service you won’t get at faceless mega‑retailers. 

How to Order / Resources 

If you’re setting up a new practice or replenishing your instrument inventory, Anthony Products’ website is straightforward. Browse by category (e.g. Dermasurgical, ENT, Fiber‑Optic Products), then reach out to our customer service for custom needs or questions. We provide literature, product manuals, FAQs, and international shipping. You can contact us at customerservice@anthonyproducts.com or toll‑free 1‑800‑428‑1610. 

Final Thought 

Surgical success relies on tools that match the surgeon’s intent. That’s why understanding the types of surgical instruments matters—not just their names, but also what they do, how they differ, and when to choose one over another. Anthony Products, with our long-standing heritage since 1969, excels at supplying high‑precision, compliant, and trusted. Whether you're into biopsy punches, retractors, forceps, or delicate tungsten-carbide needle holders, we have everything you need. 

At the end of the day, it’s surgical instruments that make precision possible, and picking the right instruments for the right procedure isn’t just smart; it’s essential.