Instruments used in Obstetrics and Gynaecology:

Sims Speculum:

Sims' vaginal speculum is for examining the vagina and cervix. It was developed by J.
Marion Sims out of pewter spoon, can be stainless steel or plastic. The plastic speculum is
disposable, Sims' speculum is inserted into the vagina to retract posterior vaginal wall. It
gives more exposure of the vaginal walls than Cusco's Speculum. The groove in the middle
of Sims' speculum allows free flow of secretions and blood to the outside. The disadvantage
of Sims' speculum is that it is not self-retaining. There is a petition campaign to have Sims'
name removed from the devices he invented: "Sims uterine curette, uterine sound, vaginal
retractor, uterine scissors, and rectal speculum."

Cusco’s Speculum:

Cusco's self-retaining bivalved speculum is used for vaginal and cervical examinations. It
has a jaw that opens up like a duck bill. The instrument was named after French
surgeon Édouard-Gabriel Cusco. It comes in three models: side screw, centre screw, and
special narrow virgin size. Cusco's speculum is usually 80 millimeters (3.1 in) long and 22
millimeters (0.87 in) broad. Cusco's speculum is used for introducing an intrauterine
contraceptive device, taking a Pap smear, cauterization of vaginal erosion,
and colposcopic examination. It is preferred in cryosurgery because it protects the anterior
and posterior vaginal wall. It also acts as the vaginal wall retractor. However, it reduces the
space in the vaginal cavity and therefore is not a preferred instrument for vaginal surgery.
Because it covers most of the vaginal wall, small lesions on the vaginal wall may be masked
by the blades of the device.
Plain Rubber Catheter:

It is a non-self retaining, radio-opaque catheter used to drain urine during labour, during
postpartum in management of post partum hemorrhage, retained placenta. Can be used as a
tourniquet, administer o2, mucus sucker

Foley’s Catheter:

The Foley Urinary Catheter was named after Frederic Foley, who produced the original
design in 1929. Foleys are indwelling Urinary Catheter, A Foley catheter can also be used to
ripen the cervix during induction of labor. When used for this purpose, the procedure is
called extra-amniotic saline infusion.

Multiple toothed vulsellum:

The multiple toothed vulsellum is a long and angled instrument used to hold the anterior lip
of cervix in D&E operation, suction evacuation.

Allis Tissue Forcep

It was invented by Oscar Allis

 The Allis clamp is a surgical instrument with sharp teeth, used to hold or grasp heavy
tissue. It is also used to grasp fascia and soft tissues such as breast or bowel tissue. Allis
clamps can cause damage, so they are often used in tissue about to be removed.
 When used to grasp the cervix to stabilize the uterus, such as when an IUD is being
inserted, an Allis clamp has the advantage of causing less bleeding

Artery Forcep:

Artery forceps are used to control bleeding from vessels by grasping and compressing an
artery

Kocher’s Hemostatic forceps:

Invented by Swiss Physician Emil Theodor Kocher, Kocher Forceps contain 1x2 teeth on
straight or curved jaws to avoid slippage when trying to grip arteries. Used to grasp heavy
tissue or clamp large blood vessels to control bleeding. Used to clamp umbilical cord and to
rupture membranes in surgical induction or augmentation of labour.
Uterine Sound:

A sound also called a sonde is an instrument for probing and dilating passages within the
body, intended for probing a woman's uterus through the cervix to measure the length and
direction of the cervical canal and uterus. Also used to detect any foreign body. Also acts as a
first dilator.

Hawkin-Ambler Dilators:

Hawkin Ambler Dilator is a single-ended curved uterine dilator with a rounded end to aid
entrance and prevent uterine wall penetration. used to dilate the cervix of the uterus.
The dilator features a discoid handle for easy grip and maneuvering. available in 16pc set,
smallest being 3/6 and largest is 18/21.

Das/Hegars dilators

Hegar dilators are used to induce cervical dilation in order to gain entry to the interior of
the uterus. Hegar dilators provide the option of double-ended dilators. Available
individually or in a set of 8, with the smallest size being ½ and largest being 11/12. used to
measure the level of dilation of a woman's uterus

Flushing curette:

Flushing Curette is used to flush the uterine cavity with antiseptic solution and to collect
samples from uterus and rectum for diagnosis of cancer. It consists of a long hollow shaft
with small spoon shaped scoop. After passing it into the uterus, sample is scraped.

Doyen’s retractor

The above instrument is the doyen retractor used to widen the surgical field by pulling the
soft tissues. Used to retract the abdominal wall and bladder to expose the lower uterine
segment during LSCS.
Deaver’s Retractor:

The Deaver Retractor is a large, wide, flat, and curved [Link] retractor commonly
used to hold back the abdominal wall during abdominal or thoracic procedures. It may also be
used to move or hold organs away from the surgical site.

Ovum forcep:

Ovum Forceps are used to grasp, hold, manipulate and remove tissue from inside the uterus
including the ovum and placenta. Ovum forceps are used during procedures such as caesarean
section, hysterectomy, and uterine repair and are also sometimes used as a hemostat.

Uterine Curette:

Thin metal tool called a curette is used to scrape (rather than vacuum out) the contents of the
uterus, the procedure is called dilatation and curettage. When combined with dilatation, both
evacuation and curettage can be used up to about the 16th week of pregnancy.

Uterine dressing Forceps:

Uterine Dressing Forceps are useful to grasp the delicate tissues in the uterus. They are also
helpful when it comes to changing or pushing the uterine wall and treating gauze and other
dressing procedures.

Laminaria Tent and Laminaria Tent Introducing Forcep:

Laminaria is a kind of seaweed that can be sterilized, rolled and dried to create a thin
stick or “tent” that can be inserted into the cervix to force dilation.

Forceps is similar to a uterine dressing forceps but has a groove on either blade to catch the
laminaria tent

Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) Syringe:

These easy-to-operate, hand-held vacuums utilize suction to gently remove uterine contents
through the cervix. Used in surgical abortion upto 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Plastic Suction Cannula:

Karman Cannula is used for suction during surgical abortion procedure and in endometrial
biopsy. It reduces the risk of perforating the uterus during vaccum aspiration.

Obstetric Forceps:

Long Curved Obstetric Forceps:

Obstetric forceps is a double-bladed metal instrument used for extraction of the foetal
head. About 37cm long. Das variety in India named after Sir Kedar Nath Das.

Short Curved Obstetric Forceps (Wrigley’s Forceps):

Outlet forceps. Comparatively lighter, marked cephalic curve with a slight pelvic curve

Kielland’s Forceps:

Christian Kielland (1871–1941) designed his forceps to facilitate delivery from the mid-
pelvis in cases of malrotation: occipito-transverse and occipito-posterior positions of the fetal
head. It was also used for high transverse arrest, today a certain indication for cesarean
section.

Episiotomy Scissors:

Episiotomy scissors are specialized surgical instruments designed for making precise
incisions in the perineum during childbirth.

Ventouse Cup:
The principal idea of the vacuum extractor is to use a cup device attached by tubing to a
pump to create enough negative pressure between the cup and the fetal scalp to allow traction
on the scalp, thereby pulling the fetus through the birth canal. Traction is applied during
a uterine contraction, resulting in descent of the fetal head by a push-pull effect. Positioning
of the cup on the fetal head and the development of a caput succedaneum are important
considerations.

Green-Armytage haemostatic Forceps:

Invented by British Gynaecologist Vivian Green-Armytage. It is used to grasp fibrous tissue,

especially the angle of the uterus securely and to clamp bleeders to achieve hemostasis during
gynecological surgeries including caesarean section, hysterectomy, myomectomy and uterine
repair.

Cord Clamp:
The umbilical cord clamp is a medical device usedord in place when the cut is made, to hold
the c and the clamp may stay on for several days while the remaining cord attached to the
baby dries. This product is manufactured from non-toxic medical grade polymer, biologically
tested and meant for single use. The serrated surface and the lock make its grip firm.

Mucus Sucker:

The Mucus Sucker is a handheld device specifically designed to remove excess mucus from
the nasal passages,

Pinard’s Stethoscope:

Oldham’s Perforator:

The instrument is required in craniotomy to perforate the skull bone for decompression of the
fetal head.
Giant Vulsellum:

Used in destructive operation especially in evisceration to have a good grip of the fetal parts
for giving traction.

Forceps Axis Traction Devices:

Can be applied with advantage in mid forceps operation to correct axis of the pelvic curve.

Myoma Screw:

Myoma Screw is a specialized gynecological instrument used to dig out and remove myomas
from the uterine cavity. It is especially useful for small and medium sized fibromas.