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Pneumatic Surgical Tools

Pneumatic surgical tools are instruments that are powered using a flow of compressed air. The air is pushed through a hose connector that moves the tool head. The tool head is held by the surgeon like a pen. The hose connector extends from the end of the "pen" and is attached to a motor from where the compressed air is generated. Compared to electric tools, pneumatic tool heads move quicker, allowing more precise incisions and can be used during less invasive surgery, such as keyhole surgery. However pneumatic tools are more expensive than electric tools and need more power to run the motor.

  1. Pneumatic Lithotriptor

    • A pneumatic lithotriptor (which sounds like the name of a dinosaur) is a drill used for breaking up renal pelvic stones. It is made from five stainless steel probes that are fed through an endoscope and aimed directly at the stones in the patient's body. When the drill is switched on it, the probes move quickly and fragment the stones, which are then removed. It is used during keyhole surgery, therefore only minimal incisions are made on the patient's skin. This reduces surgery time and causes less discomfort for the patient. Med Science explains that it is an easy, low-cost solution to an illness which would otherwise need open surgery.

    Bone Shaver

    • A bone shaver is a crucial pneumatic surgical tool used during spine surgery. It was patented in 1997 and has been used in hospitals ever since. It is a hand-held instrument with a vibrating cutting edge. It is an important tool because during complex spinal surgery the surgeon has full control of the blade, which is designed to move away from nerves and tissues that should not be cut during surgery.

    Dissecting Tools

    • A dissecting tool is essentially a drill head attached to a motor used during orthopaedic and neurological surgery. The drill heads are a fast and precise way of surgeons cutting through bone and bioplastics. The tools are designed with a variety of head shapes including a cyclinder, ball or acorn shape to suit the surgical requirements. The heads also vary in size from 1.2 millimeters up to 3.2 millimeters.

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