Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Important Pathology Laboratory Equipment That All Labs Need

By Nita McKinney


Pathologists work in medical laboratories within pathology departments studying illness. A pathology department forensically examines bodies, usually with a view to trying to determine cause of death. Therefore, pathology laboratory equipment should include all the things you need to determine a cause of death.

Examining the human body is the number one priority for the pathologist. One tool they often migrate to first are enterotome scissors, because they need them yo open up the lumen to get to the intestines. Before they do cut open the gut they usually score the area first so as to make cutting into the area easier.

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.

No medical lab would be complete without a skull chisel to help crack the cranium open. Usually a hand saw is used to mark the skull and then the chisel is used to separate the top of the head and expose the brain so that it can be looked at. Another tool used on the head is a vibrating saw, which is used to remove the brain. It's not a powerful blade, because its purpose is not to damage the soft tissue but to help free up the brain.

Scissors in the lab are often just the standard scissors you can find in any hardware store. The most important thing is that they are sharp enough to cut tissue from the body. Before doing this, the examiner might use a rib cutter to extract the ribs from the chest cavity so they can get to the organs. As standard rib cutters are quite pricey the lab will sometimes buy pruning shears, which can do a similar job for a cheaper price.

A scalpel is a very crucial implement in the autopsy room. The longer ones are usually the ones that examiners use because these let them delve deep into the bodies cavities. A good slicing tool is essential too. Bread knives, also known as long knives, need to be sharp enough to cut very thin slices of organ tissue to be looked at under a microscope. These days they have blades that can be resharpened over and over again.

Purchasing all the tools that are needed is down to each individual department. They need to decide exactly what tool is right for their circumstances. What should be considered is that tools come in various shapes and sizes and some might be more effective for the labs needs than others. For example, scalpels vary in thickness and length and choosing the right one might not be easy.

The main things to consider when purchasing pathology laboratory equipment are the costs of the tool that needs to be used as well as the costs of any alternative. The lab needs to look at the amount of work they are doing and decide whether that volume justifies buying new tool. There is a very healthy market for used equipment and that alternative should be considered.




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