Do surgeons use surgical steel?

[Asha'man]

It seems to me that when a blade (usually a POS) is described as having a "surgical steel blade", it's probably a crappy steel and the seller doesn't want to tell you that. Is this so-called "surgical steel" actually used for scalpels and stuff? I'd think they'd use a higher-quality steel for something as precise and necessarily razor-sharp.

Asha'man

 

[Razoredj]

It's my understanding that there really is no such thing as "surgical steel." Those companies using it are using it as a marketing term only.

 

[Bikewer]

scalpels and such invariably use disposable blades, so they don't have to stay sharp long.

some years ago, there was a surgeon who was using scalpel blades made from obsidian, the volcanic glass shears down to the molecule level when properly "knapped".

 

[Social cameleon]

True "surgical steel" is used mostly in hemostats, and the like. It's main criteria are sterilization, not harness, tensile strength, or edge holding. Modern scalpels or scalpel blades are regular razor blades similar to X-actos. Since they're disposed of in sharps containers, they don't require mutch edge holding either. I think they use some sort of spring steel for those.
As for the "Surgical steel" used in stainless pakistani, and tiawanese blades, it's probably whatever was cheapest at the time of manufacture.

 

[Flotsam]

The blades we use come labeled as stainless or carbon steel - can't tell the actual composition from the packaging. They are extremely sharp, but do not hold this edge very long. We often change blades a couple of times in a long case. You can definitely tell when the blade is going - the force required to make incisions increases, but this could mean losing some of the fine control you have w/ the knife.

Sam

 

[wolfmann601]

Gotta love what dem surgeons slice ya with. the scalpels are throw-aways and they may use a bunch of them. Then if they hit a bleeder, they use DISPOSABLE little white cauterizers maybe just for a half a second and chuck them. Then look at the actual costs!!!!! A slicer that makes the initial incision, what number the Docs call it is beyond me is chucked at a cost to the patient of about 80 bucks. The little white battery cauterizer is also around 80-100 bucks. I have quite a few of both, they are great for fine detail soldering and the scalpels are great also. But what a profit margain!!!!!!! To you great custom guys, make a custom slicer for a Hospital. You could probably get Health Insurance or Medicaid to reimburse you 10 Grand!!!!!!!!wolf

 

[george tichbourne]

Surgical steel is steel actually used for surgury. Here is an example of surgical steel....it is 440C and is used regularly in Dallas for brism.

In this case I can point to my 440C knives and confidently say that they are made from the same steel as surgical instruments. PS I made the bris.

 

[Crayola]

Hey George, could you make a thread telling us more about these wonderful "ethnic" knives you make? When most people think ethnic knives, I bet khukuris or katanas come to mind. It is wonderful to see these knives for use in Jewish food prep and circumcision that you make!

 

[george tichbourne]

Ethnic knives are usually as a result of customer request. Some of the "ethnic" patterns that I have made include this bris, chicken slaughtering knives, santokus, dirks, skean dubhs, kirpans and yagutans(sp?).

The range of product that a qualified knifemaker can make is unlimited and depends on demand more than anything else. Being located in a very ethnically diverse community like the Toronto area it is inevitable that I get requests for these knives.