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Hemostat
Also called: artery forceps, Kelly hemostat, mosquito
Locking clamp with long thin beaks used to grip tissue, vessels and small fragments.
A hemostat has finger rings and a ratchet lock, with long, thin beaks that have parallel grooves. It clamps bleeding vessels, removes tissue from sockets and picks up small root tips or debris. It is not used to hold a suture needle.
How to spot it
- Finger rings, a ratchet lock, and long slender beaks (straight or curved).
- Hemostat vs. needle holder: hemostat beaks are long and thin with parallel grooves; needle holder beaks are short and thick with crosshatching.
What it is used for
- Picking up small fragments; placing or removing items in surgery and general dentistry.
Safety and care
- Critical item (it goes into soft tissue or touches bone): clean it, package it and heat-sterilize it after every patient.
Related
Sources: Majid M. Oral Surgery Lec. 9+10: Basic surgical instruments. Al-Mustansiriyah University