The Various Uses Of Pathology Laboratory Equipment

By Nita McKinney


The pathology department of a hospital is primarily focused on illnesses. A pathologist's job is to examine a body and ascertain a cause of death. It goes without saying that their choice of pathology laboratory equipment is crucial, if they are to do their job to the high standards that are expected.

As the primary focus is on looking at a body, one of the pieces of equipment pathologists regularly use are enterotome scissors. These are very large scissors used to cut the intestine open. Before actually cutting open the gut, or lumen, the examiner has to make a small incision in an area that will not do any damage to the intestines.

One thing that can be overlooked is the need to actually put a body back together. A Hagedorn needle is a large needle that is strong enough to sew a corpse back together. The main thing is to ensure that the body cannot fall apart, therefore special thread is used, a strong thread that can withstand the weight of the human body.

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.

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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