Scalpels: Types, Uses & History | Medical & Craft Applications

A scalpel is a metal precision cutting instrument that has a sharp blade attached to a handle. Modern scalpels are made out of stainless steel, but primitive scalpels were made out of rock, bone and shells.

Uses

• A scalpel is used during medical procedures such as surgery or dissection. Scalpels are useful for cutting stencils and in other arts and crafts projects.

Types

• Disposable scalpel blades are meant for one time use during medical procedures. Scalpel blades that are intended for non-medical use may be reused. Different sizes of scalpel blades are used in surgery for cutting muscles, scraping and stripping off biological material.

Safety

• A person using a scalpel needs to be careful not to accidentally cut himself; the blade is very sharp. Safety scalpels with retractable blades reduce the risk of potential injury because the blade is not accessible when it is not in use.

Considerations

• Metal scalpels cannot be used when a surgeon is using MRI technology to assist with the procedure.

Advances

• Laser scalpels are replacing traditional medical scalpels during procedures like eye surgery.