LARYNGOSCOPE

       A laryngoscope is an illuminating medical instrument used by healthcare providers to allow visualization of the pharynx and larynx of a patient. The pharynx is the area directly behind the nose and mouth, and the larynx is better known as the voice box. A laryngoscope is specially designed to fit into a patient's airway to allow for a procedure known as orotracheal intubation, in which a tube is inserted via the mouth into the trachea, or wind pipe, to deliver oxygen and medication and to permit deep suctioning.

There are two components to this instrument: the laryngoscope blade and the handle. The handle contains the batteries needed for illumination and the blade, which is inserted into the airway, has a bulb at the end of it from which a bright light shines during use. These blades are not sharp, and they do not cut the skin in any way. Laryngoscope blades come in different sizes, with 0 being the smallest and 4 being the largest. The size of the patient to be intubated determines the size of the blade that the healthcare provider will use.

The handle and blade of the typical laryngoscope are two separate pieces that have to be assembled before each use, but this can be accomplished in a matter of seconds, allowing doctors and paramedics to use this instrument in respiratory emergencies that require orotracheal intubation. A laryngoscope is not a large instrument; the handle is approximately the size of a door handle, and the blade is a little shorter than the handle. There are two types of laryngoscope blades: curved and straight. Both are inserted deep within a patient's airway. 

A straight blade is used to lift a leaf-shaped structure called the epiglottis, which serves to prevent food and foreign matter from entering the windpipe, and this type of blades generally is preferred when a pediatric patient must be intubated. A curved blade is preferred when an adult patient must be intubated. It is not the epiglottis that is lifted with a curved blade, which is inserted into another structure called the vallecula. Regardless of the type of blade used, the goal is the same, which is to allow visualization of the vocal cords through which the endotracheal tube can be passed into the trachea. The importance of viewing the vocal cords lies in the fact that it is vital that the doctor or paramedic performing orotracheal intubation ensures that he or she is placing the tube in the trachea and not the esophagus, the tube leading to the stomach.

GIGLI SAW

      A gigli saw is a simple medical tool that doctors have been using for centuries. Doctors use it to cut through bone. The saw is composed of a wire, two handles and a blade.

A gigli saw blade may have small, chain-style pieces that facilitate easy cutting when the user moves the handles. As the wire moves, the blade cuts through the bone. The style of the saw makes it useful for detailed surgical work. 

Although new technology has made a lot of traditional medical tools obsolete, doctors still use gigli saws. These tools are often used for cutting through the skull in brain surgery. This saw is also used to cut through other bones in other parts of the body.

Older gigli saw designs were used by doctors for amputations and other common surgeries. Some of these older saws are now medical antiques that may have collectible value. The handles of the older saws may be made of wood, or ivory. Modern saws are more likely to use synthetic materials. 

The stark visual image of the gigli saw and its unusual name make it a candidate for use in some macabre kinds of film and literature. Such a saw might also be part of a toolkit for medical students who are working on cadavers. Although the gigli saw is a tool of healing, some people may find it to be sinister in some contexts. 

In the range of modern saws available to surgeons, the gigli saw represents the unpowered variety. Other unpowered saws include hacksaws and similar designs. Doctors can also choose powered saw types like reciprocating saws. Sonic cutting saws provide a smooth result for today’s surgeries, and engineers are creating some new sonic saws that can also effectively cut tissue. 

One popular feature of the gigli saw is that it is ultra-portable. The saw takes up almost no space and travels easily. Doctors can get replacement blades, wires or handles as needed. The design of the gigli saw remains effective, and that may be one reason that doctors are still using it for a range of surgical tasks. Medical journals continue to mention some of the work that physicians are doing with simple tools like gigli saws, to help broaden the collective knowledge of the international medical community.

TROCARS

      A trocar is a surgical instrument with a sharp point which is used to create a hole in the body which can be used to introduce surgical tools. Trocars are most commonly attached to tubes known as cannulas, with surgical tools being passed down the cannula, through the trocar, and into the body. Trocars are widely used in laparoscopic surgery procedures. They are also utilized by the funeral industry, during the embalming process.

Although trocars are traditionally sharp, the blade can come in a number of styles, from the classic three pointed blade on a traditional trocar to a blunt blade on a non-bladed version of the instrument. Trocars can also be shielded, with small shields which click into place to prevent damage to a patient's internal organs after the trocar has been inserted. These devices are often designed to be single use, with the trocar discarded after use in a patient.

One use for the trocar in human and animal medicine is for aspiration. If a patient has a buildup of fluid or gas, a trocar can be quickly inserted and connected to an aspiration tube to remove the buildup. This can greatly increase comfort for the patient, acting as an emergency intervention to stabilize the patient until a doctor can determine what caused the buildup and address the problem. In laparoscopic surgery and surgical procedures on the veins and arteries, trocars are used as ports, creating a point of entry for tools used during the surgery. After the surgery is finished, the device is carefully removed and small stitches are put in place.

Trocars come in a range of sizes, designed for various applications. A surgical trocar may be quite large, to allow for the introduction of surgical tools, and the surgeon can usually select from several styles and sizes to find the most appropriate tool for a procedure. Various devices can also be attached to the instrument, such as aspiration machines, ports used for the delivery of medicine, and so forth.

In the embalming process used to prepare bodies for burial, the trocar is used to gain venous access for arterial embalming. Once the embalming is complete, another trocar connected to an aspiration machine is inserted into the abdomen to drain gas and fluids. This is designed to prevent bloating of the body, as the embalming process does not halt the process of decomposition, only slowing it considerably.