What are 2 different types of surgical blades?

Lancets are small, sharp blades used to make smaller incisions, such as those made to draw blood or perform a biopsy. Lancets are typically single-use and are available in a variety of sizes.

Scalpel blades as well as lancets are commonly crafted from stainless steel, carbon steel, or ceramic materials. Stainless steel is the most common material used for surgical blades, as it is durable and resistant to corrosion. While carbon steel blades offer superior sharpness compared to their stainless steel counterparts, they do come with the drawback of being more susceptible to rusting. Ceramic blades are the sharpest type of surgical blade, but they are also the most expensive and fragile.

The selection of a surgical blade for a particular procedure hinges upon the individual requirements of the surgeon. Careful consideration must be given to ensure the best match between blade type and surgical needs. For example, a surgeon performing a complex cardiac surgery will need to use a variety of different scalpel blades to make precise incisions and dissections. A surgeon performing a simple blood draw will only need to use a small lancet.