Wednesday, August 7, 2013

The Various Uses Of Pathology Laboratory Equipment

By Nita McKinney


Pathologists main job is to forensically examine a body to determine causes of death. When choosing pathology laboratory equipment each lab needs to take into a account a number of factors. The equipment needs to be what they need to perform to the standards expected from them.

The main part of the job of pathologists involves examining bodies. One of the main tools for this is an enterotome, a pair of large scissors which help to cut open the intestines. In order to get to the intestine the medical examiner has to cut open the lumen and gentle cut the stomach lining open without cutting into the intestines themselves, otherwise they may perforate them.

When sewing bodies together after an autopsy, they need a large needle that is stone enough to perforate the skin quite deeply. That needle is called a Hagedorn needle. The thread that is used is a specially strong twine that holds a body to together, because it would be embarrassing if the body actually fell apart after it was sewn together.

Skull chisels are a very important part of the examiners tool kit. They help crack the cranium open, a little like the way a coconut would be opened up. To do this a small incision is made in the skull, then the chisel is used to free the top of the skull and expose brain matter. The vibrating saw is also used to help remove the brain. It is not very powerful, simply because it isn't meant to be in contact with the soft tissue area, just the skull.

You'll find scissors in every lab up and down the country. These are not usually that different from the ones you'll get in a normal hardware store. They have to be sharp, so they can cut tissue fragments and organs away from the body. Before they get to the organs, an examiner might need to use a rib cutter to get access to them. Some doctors will buy ordinary pruning shears from a hardware store because these are often much cheaper then buying professional rib cutters.

Another standard tool is the scalpel. It's main use is to dig into cavities, and for this reason many have longer handles than, say, ones a surgeon would use. Slicing organs so they can be looked at is obviously an important component of the job too. That's where the bread knife, or long knife, comes in. The blades can be resharpened and have to be sharp enough to cut smooth slices of tissue.

When buying tools the lab needs to take a look at their circumstances. Making the decision about which tool is right for them has to be done on a case by case basis. For example, not all labs will necessarily need a short scalpel. It depends on the type of work they do and the volume.

When buying pathology laboratory equipment it's vital to consider the needs of the lab as well as their budget. If an alternative tool can be purchased at a cheaper price then that should be looked at as a viable option. Also remember that second hand tools can be bought from various reputable sources, saving a lot of money for the lab.




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