Poor quality, dull, or worn instruments can be particularly aggravating to the surgeon and even dangerous to the patient.
In cardiac surgery, an inadequate instrument can prolong procedure time or lead to unnecessary delays, leading to increased anesthesia or cardiopulmonary bypass (“pump”) time. In plastic surgery, a dull scissors may rip or tear skin, which may affect wound healing and cosmetic results. Instead of producing a sharp, clean incision, a dull cutting surface may macerate or crimp tissue, which may impair wound healing and even increase the likelihood of a visible scar.
In the operating room, cutting is performed either by scalpel, electrocautery, or scissors. Scalpel blades are disposable and not reused, thereby providing maximum sharpness with each case. Electrocautery does not rely on a cutting surface and is also a one-time use instrument. However, surgical scissors are part of the instrument tray and are always reused. Quite often, dull scissors will be used over and over — not because a surgeon desires this but because the dull scissors is returned with the instrument tray in order to keep instrument counts accurate. Imagine the frustration when the operating team is given the same dull instrument to use case after case! Finally, sharpening instruments can be tedious and expensive – and often with mixed results.
The NOIR Supreme Cut surgical scissors by Aesculap Inc. (B. Braun, Tuttlingen, Germany) was designed to address these issues. Aesculap has been in the business of surgical instruments since 1867 and has a long history of advances in instrument technology and design.
First, the cutting surface of the NOIR Supreme Cut scissors starts sharp and stays sharp. The NOIR scissors come with two cutting blade options: Smooth or Wavecut. Both versions feature one razor-sharp microtome blade. As the cutting blade, the Smooth blade model offers unparalleled sharpness (Figure 1) and is precision ground to an exceptionally sharp cutting angle. The technology allows for very fine, smooth cutting with low resistance and minimal use of force. In the Wavecut model, the cutting blade has a unique ridged surface to prevent tissue from slipping out during cutting while still providing exceptional sharpness (Figure 2).
Figure 1:
Microtome technology ensures ultimate cutting edge precision for both Smooth Cut and Wavecut blade options. The razor-sharp microtome blade edge offers unparalleled sharpness with minimal use of force.
Figure 2:
Aesculap Wavecut® technology prevents tissue from slipping out during each cut.
The NOIR scissors also provide unmatched durability. Most modern surgical instruments are made of metal alloys such as titanium or stainless steel. Even the best alloys such as martensitic 400-stainless require sharpening after prolonged use. The NOIR scissors features a Durotip® tungsten carbide technology along with a NOIR coating, resulting in extremely high surface hardness, which provides very high wear resistance and durability. In addition Aesculap’s surface smoothing technology provides a low-wear internal blade surface, which in combination with the surface coating, significantly prolongs blade life.
The scissors are comfortable and well balanced, while the tip is easy to see. The wear-resistant tungsten alloy makes these scissors durable, while providing excellent feedback during use. The hinge is smooth but sturdy and does not loosen after repeated use.
Finally, the NOIR scissors have a unique low-reflection matte black finish and gold trim, making the tool easy to identify on the instrument tray. This prevents the aggravating reflection caused by polished steel instruments when used in a well-lit surgical field or with headlamps (Figure 3). In addition, all NOIR scissors come with an embedded data matrix tag, allowing for fast machine-readable instrument tracking. The NOIR scissors is compatible with various surgical tracking systems (Figure 4).
Figure 3:
The extremely hard (2000HV) low-reflection NOIR coating enhances the wear resistance and ensures longevity.
Figure 4:
Data matrix code technologies allow fast machine-readable instrument tracking with instrument management software such as instacount® PLUS.
The scissors are available in a wide assortment of styles, including smooth cut vs. wavecut, variable patterns (Metzenbaum
, Mayo-Lexer), and lengths ranging from 4 ½ inches (strabismus, pediatric) to 8 inches (adult).
Are all scissors created equal? Absolutely not! If you want to reduce instrument maintenance and equip your surgeons with the best tools for the best patient outcomes, then consider the Aesculap NOIR Supreme Cut scissors.
