microHandels

Ergonomic handles for Dumond foreceps

Even if the personal skills play the major role for the outcome of any surgical procedure the quality of the tools used also play a role. In surgical training programs it is important that the participants are trained using tools that are ergonomic and of good quality (Ref). Surgical, and especially microsurgical, tools are expensive and constitutes a high cost when setting up a microsurgical training facility. Due to the delicate nature of the microsurgical tools there is also a high risk of damage that can increase the running costs of the courses.

In a microsurgical tools set you need at least two straight micro-forecps and also one angled micro-forceps.

There are very good micro-forceps on the market, one example is the balanced S&T forceps but they come at a high price.

When we set up the training facility in Gothenburg we looked for alternatives and started to use Dumond 5 (standard and biology) forceps. They are around 1/10th of the price compared to the S&T and is relatively easy to refurbish in house when damaged. There are of cause large quality and ergonomic differences between the two types, one is the lenght (11 versus 15cm) and the other the flat sides of the Dumond forceps compared to the round handles of the S&T that make fine positioning of the tips easier. To compensate for this we designed an extension and two rounded part using a direct modelling software (Spaceclaim) and printed these on a 3D printer (Formlab 2) using a standard Fomlab Grey resin or the Ridgid resin

The extension is pressure fitted and can therefore easily be removed if somebody prefer a shorter forceps or transferred to a new forceps when the original is damaged beyond repair. The rounded parts for the handles are glues on and are not reused when the forceps is exchanged. The end of the extension is hollow and covered by a cap, if needed stainless steel pellets can be used to balance the weight of the forceps similar to the S&T forceps.