There are several classes of surgical instruments:
- Graspers, such as forceps
- Clamps and occluders for blood vessels and other organs
- Retractors, used to spread open skin, ribs and other tissue
- Distractors, positioners and stereotactic devices
- Mechanical cutters (scalpels, lancets, drill bits, rasps, trocars, Ligasure, etc.)
- Dilators and specula, for access to narrow passages or incisions
- Suction tips and tubes, for removal of bodily fluids
- Sealing devices, such as surgical staplers
- Irrigation and injection needles, tips and tubes, for introducing fluid
- Tyndallers, to help "wedge" open damaged tissues in the brain.
- Powered devices, such as drills, dermatomes
- Scopes and probes, including fiber optic endoscopes and tactile probes
- Carriers and appliers for optical, electronic and mechanical devices
- Ultrasound tissue disruptors, cryotomes and cutting laser guides
- Measurement devices, such as rulers and calipers
An important relative distinction, regarding surgical instruments, is the amount of bodily disruption or tissue trauma that their use might cause the patient. Terms relating to this issue are 'atraumatic' and minimally invasive. Minimally invasive systems are an important recent development in surgery.
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