SK Forceps: New Monopolar Electrosurgical Forceps Designed Specifically for Blepharoptosis Surgery

Abstract

Summary: The electrode tips of conventional monopolar forceps are relatively blunt, complicating the delicate detachment manipulations required for blepharoptosis repair. This study describes the SK forceps, which is a new monopolar electrosurgical forceps we specifically designed for blepharoptosis surgery. The electrode tips in our design were engineered to be as fine as possible. The SK forceps can cut tissues with the electrode tips in contact in the closed position and coagulate bleeding while clasping the blood vessels. When inactivated, the SK forceps can perform similar manipulations to regular surgical forceps. Surgeons holding the nonactivated SK forceps in one hand and regular forceps in the other benefit from greatly improved maneuverability at every step of the procedure. Incision and dissection procedures performed with the SK forceps result in a surgical field with minimal bleeding because the forceps can simultaneously perform hemostasis and incision, which is a characteristic of a high-frequency electrosurgical unit. However, when unexpected bleeding is encountered in the operative field, the SK forceps can clamp the injured vessels and coagulate the bleeding more rapidly and confidently compared with the needle-type monopolar electrodes without switching instruments. Our design allows surgeons to perform successive procedural steps without switching instruments. This characteristic makes the SK forceps a beneficial instrument for blepharoptosis surgery.