How to Change a Tip Cautery

Electrocautery pencils are plastic, pen-shaped devices that deliver electrical current to dissect tissues and stop bleeding during surgical procedures. Most electrocautery pencils are preloaded with a flat metal tip; these tips are interchangeable. This allows the same unit to be used with different tips, which may be required for different situations. Different options include rolling balls, loops, precision tips and coated Teflon tips. It is not uncommon for two or three tips to be used in a single operation.

Things You'll Need

• Electrocautery pencil
• Interchangeable tip

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Instructions

• 1

  Hold the electrocautery pencil in one hand, taking care to not depress the "Cut" or "Cautery" buttons.

• 2

  Grasp the base of the electrocautery tip with the jaws of a small surgical clamp. Pull the two apart, using minimal force to avoid dropping the tip.

• 3

  Hold the new tip just above the ribbed part at the base using a surgical clamp. Insert the tip into the electrocautery pencil until it will not go in any further. Activate the unit by pressing "Cut" or "Cautery" to make sure the tip is fully inserted.