A
medical needle holder is a hand-held instrument used by a surgeon when
suturing wounds closed. This piece of surgical equipment is used to pass the suture needle through the tissue of the wound
being stitched. It is a reusable surgical instrument that can be sterilized
many times prior to being used on a new patient.
Many needle holders have a handle that is similar
to a scissor or forceps handle.
Two loops form the top of the instrument. The thumb is inserted into one side,
and the forefinger is inserted into the other side. A clamp opens when the
fingers spread apart, and closes as the fingers move closer together.
Some needle holders have a groove etched into the
jaws of the clamp. This ensures the needle is correctly oriented at all times. The unusual
handle on this particular needle holder is held in the palm of the hand, and gripping the
handle tighter causes the jaws to clamp down on the needle.
Another
version of the needle holder features a spring within the device that adds tension
to the jaws of the clamp. The spring enables many different size needles to be
used with a single holder. This type of needle holder may be used to maneuver suture thread as
well as the suture needle.
