My institution is purchasing laparoscopic instruments from Aesculap, and they do not currently make a grasper popular for both our General and Gynecological services.
I have asked them about making us some of these Debakey grasping forceps, but the cost for a custom run is prohibitive. They would need to put it into producation in order to have it available at a reasonable cost. So...I'm puting this page up to see if there would be a market for the grasper.
While I could continue to have this grasper from the original company, our current one is a non-modular instrument, and that is not popular with our Sterile Processing department. Nor would it be with any patient who would be on the receiving end of any bioburden debris that escaped the cleaning process.
The instrument itself is, and would be a rotatable, 5 mm instrument, approximately 36 cm long, suitable for second puncture. (Although our Gynecological service could also be interested in a 45 cm length so they could use it through the operative channel of their scope.)
Below are some pictures of the Debakey tip. The jaws are 2 mm wide, with a slight curve that still allows it to be a 5 mm instrument and pass through that size trocar.
Please contact me at my work address below if you would be interested in having such a laparoscopic grasper. It would take 6-8 months to put it into production, so I am anxious to prove that there is a market for the tip.
Cybernetically yours,
Bob Baxter RN, CNOR Staff Nurse, Surgical Services
Specialist, Abdominal Laparoscopic Surgery
Laser Safety Officer
Providence Everett Medical Center
EVERETT, WA, USA
"The words stated here represent my personal views and opinions; they are not made on behalf of my current employer"