Sklar Collins Rib Shears, 9-1/2in
A 9-1/2 inch heavy duty shears used to cut through rib bone during thoracic surgery and autopsy procedures.
The Sklar Collins Rib Shears is a 9-1/2 inch heavy duty cutting instrument built to divide rib bone, a task that requires considerably more cutting force than the soft tissue scissors used elsewhere in a surgical case. Its robust blade and handle design provide the leverage needed to cut cleanly through bone with controlled effort, reducing the risk of bone splintering that can occur with an underpowered or dull instrument.
Rib shears of this kind are used in thoracic surgery whenever access to the chest cavity requires dividing one or more ribs, as well as in autopsy and pathology settings where the chest needs to be opened for examination. The strength and cutting geometry of this instrument distinguish it clearly from the finer tissue and suture scissors found on the same general surgical tray, and it is typically kept as a dedicated, separately stored instrument given its size and function.
Thoracic surgeons, cardiac surgeons and pathologists rely on a well maintained set of rib shears for this specific task. As a reusable stainless steel instrument, it is cleaned, inspected for blade sharpness and alignment, and sterilized between uses.
