Science and Medicine

Hemostat

A hemostat (also called a hemostatic clamp; arterial forceps; and pean, after Jules-Émile Péan) is a tool used to control bleeding during surgery. Similar in design to both pliers and scissors, it is used to clamp exposed blood vessels shut. Hemostats belong to a group of instruments that pivot (similar to scissors, and including needle holders, tissue holders, and some other clamps) where the structure of the tip determines the tool's function. A hemostat has handles that can be held in place by their locking mechanism, which usually is a series of interlocking teeth, a few on each handle, that allow the user to adjust the clamping force of the pliers. When the tips are locked together, the force between them is about 40 N (9 lbf). Often in the first phases of surgery, the incision is lined with hemostats on blood vessels that are awaiting ligation.

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See also

• ▸Emasculation
• ▸Marcus A. McCorison
• ▸Behavioral neuroscience

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