The Instrument Guru™ has Helped Hundreds of People Find Surgical Instruments
Below is a sampling of some of the questions the Guru has been asked, along with the answers!
The Guru has been asked:
I have been looking everywhere for straight blunt Westcotts but no one seems to carry them. Can you help?
The Guru answered:
Certainly! We have them in stock and can have them delivered within jus ta few days.
The Guru has been asked:
I am looking for a part for a uterine injection cannula. It is a piece that looks like a Hershey Kiss. We keep getting the wrong part. Our cannula is very old but still functional.
The Guru answered:
The instrument you are looking for is a "Small Acorn Cone for Cohen Cannula." Part number: 72-5200119S.
The Guru has been asked:
Hi. I am looking for an OMS handpiece, gold colour about 15 cm long with a white cord and two pieces of tubing? On it is writen "TAC 1MM 1501." Thanks.
The Guru answered:
This is a TAC reusable Vitrectomy Handpiece, typically used in older OMS (Optical Micro Systems) or the AMO vitrectomy machine or phaco machine.
The Guru has been asked:
Our Neurosurgeon does not like any of the tapered suction tube we have gotten in for him. He uses a set of Fujita suctions and we can’t find these.
The Guru answered:
Fujita is a Japanese company and has a US-based distributor called PMT Corporation, based in MN. Their phone number is 952-470-0866. The product numbers you supplied match up to their items.
The Guru has been asked:
I am looking for an ophthalmic instrument - echo 601-438. I need to know the name and price.
The Guru answered:
This is called a Golf Club Spud, normally used in eye procedures to remove foreign objects. Millennium Surgical sells this for $70.00 our part number is 3-0840.
The Guru has been asked:
Codman has discontinued manufacture of the Wylie Endarterectomy Set (Cat No 63-8010). Can you suggest alternative manufacturer?
The Guru answered:
This is a item that we still have in stock! The cost of the item is $2025.00. Item 10-310475. Also, if you ever have a discontinued item that needs to be replaced, let us know. We can duplicate most instruments.
The Guru has been asked:
I need Jorgens balls for K-Wires.
The Guru answered:
The company is Jurgan Development Mfg. Their phone number is 1-800-587-4262. They do not have a website but you can call the number and set up an account right over the phone. They do have starter sets that come with balls, screwdriver and case.
The Guru has been asked:
I am currently leasing sets from SSI. What are sample prices for the sample sets and how do I determine what I need? I have a meeting on Wednesday and need to present information.
The Guru answered:
While we put together some firm numbers, here is some information for your meeting.
Tonsil: $1,150 for instruments, $550 for container and baskets.
Tubal: $4,500 for instruments, $650 for container racks and baskets.
Lap GYN: $9,500 for instruments, $650 for container racks and baskets.
Lap Chole: $7,450 for instruments, $650 for container racks and baskets.
The SSI trays should NOT be duplicated unless you can verify active usage of all items. For example, the Lap GYN tray has four different types of bipolar forceps and the Lap Chole tray has a huge selection of graspers. I would suggest having trays revamped and I estimate you can reduce the cost of the tray by 30% or more. I suggest that you track usage of instruments in these trays. Here are some tips:
1) Make copies of set lists and write the surgeon's name on top.
2) Have a tech or nurse circle each item used in surgery.
3) Survey usage results after several cases have been completed.
The Guru has been asked:
My surgeon is looking for a closed end knot pusher for use in LAVH procedures. The surgeon has one at another hospital that is 10 years old.& I have been searching for it for a month.
The Guru answered:
Let me send you a picture to verify, but it sounds like a Saye/Reddick knot pusher - closed. [Follow up: After receiving picture and verifying, the item was ordered and the search was over!]
The Guru has been asked:
What is a potato masher?
The Guru answered:
It is manufactured by Stryker. It is a metal instrument with a white top for pushing down on the hip. It is a trial cup positioning instrument about 260 mm long, it has a white handle at one hand and a male thread at the other. Onto the thread can be placed a trial acetab cup, which is impacted into the acetabulum, by striking the white handle with a large mallet. The trial is an open design in that it could look like a potato masher.
The Guru has been asked:
What is a Robin's Grasper?
The Guru answered:
We suspect that this is internal jargon at your organization. If you find an actual instrument with the name Robin's Grasper, please let us know. That means you have stumped the Guru and will receive a $50 gift card.
The Guru has been asked:
Can you find a Jack Anderson Retractor?
The Guru answered:
Yes! The Anderson Bear Claw Retractor, used in face and skin. (Offered by Millennium Surgical Corp. #14-881047)
The Guru has been asked:
Do you have an intercordial Breuing injection syringe?
The Guru answered:
A 76-50 N-Tralig is an equivalent. It is used in dentistry to inject anesthesia cartridges.
The Guru has been asked:
I need: N5825 Webster Ruler. At 14cm point, ruler is bent 90 deg angle, brought to a blunt point at 15 cm. Can you get this instrument?
The Guru answered:
This item is no longer being manufactured by maker but if you can provide us with the instrument, we can have it duplicated.
he Guru has been asked:
Hi! I'm looking for a moon rectal retractor. Can you help?
The Guru answered:
A moon retractor is very similar to a Hill Ferguson rectal retractor except the handle curves away from the retractor instead of toward the retractor. There are different blade sizes for this instrument.
The Guru has been asked:
My surgeon asked for a Godwin Sound?
The Guru answered:
Order these through CR Bard 888-367-2273. These are like a Van Buren Sound but with a hole in the end. They are offered in sizes 12-30 French.
The Guru has been asked:
I am trying to find a "MY" scissors. I understand it is a variation of a Metz. Who makes them?
The Guru answered:
The scissors you are looking for a called Cooley Cardiovascular "My" Scissors.
They are offered in two lengths and are a Mayo type scissors:
Item # 9-62052: 7.25" Cooley Scissors and Item # 9-62053: 9.0": Cooley Scissors
The Guru has been asked:
We are having trouble locating a neonatal and or pediatric non disposable gum elastic bougie. Do you have any suggestions for us?
The Guru answered:
Here is a place to try, the site does not list a pediatric version but they may offer one.
The Guru has been asked:
I have been using a disposable instrument to find IUD strings. The product is from Simpson/Bayse and is called Mi-Mark endocervical sampling set. Are these still available or anything new to locate IUD strings? I have called the phone number on the back of the packaging and the phone has been disconnected.
The Guru answered:I believe Simpson Bayse was acquired by Sklar many years ago.
We offer a reusable IUD removal hook that may work. The is 10.5" long and is Stainless Steel.
The Guru has been asked:
Can you tell me who makes Rang hip retractors? They are hand held, for use in pelvic osteotomy surgery.
The Guru answered:
These can be ordered on line at: http://www.jantek.cc/?f=products&id=20
The Guru has been asked:
There is an old style retractor that we can not find anywhere; it looks like a parker but is smaller. Can you help me find it?
The Guru answered:
Sure, I will gladly send you a duplicate of that product in 10 days. You'll now be able to use sets which were not usable before.
The Guru has been asked:
I need a suction for a lap tray which is longer than 45cm long.
The Guru answered:
Sure! We can make any length suction you require. We just need to know:
Overall Length
Back End Connector Style
Front end style
If you have a 45cm you like but want longer, let me know the part # or send me a picture and I can locate a longer length for you!
The Guru has been asked:
Hello. I am looking for a clip kapp universal which goes in a cosgrove mitral valve retractor.
The Guru answered:
The KS7105 is a universal clamp for the Cosgrove Retractor. You can view a picture of the clamp on the website www.kappsurgical.comunder the Cosgrove parts list. The price for the KS7105 is $230.10.
The Guru has been asked:
Our GYN surgeon is asking some of the items out of our D&C set to be refinished with a black non-reflective finish, who offers this?
The Guru answered:
The standard coating is a black Teflon finish, this can be applied to most stainless steel instruments. The black finish is non-reflective and will absorb the energy from a laser. Millennium Surgical offers this service.
The Guru has been asked:
We need an IV pole which can extend 8-9' high. It must be able to hold a lot of weight. We will use it for irrigation during ACL surgery.
The Guru answered:
Millennium offers a complete line of irrigation towers. There is one that can extend up to nine feet and hold 8 bags. This allows the operating room to utilize this tower, a standard tubing set which costs a lot less than the irrigation pumps and the special tubing sets sold for them. You can cut case cost by approximately $50.00 per case.
The Guru has been asked:
Do you know what the "Farley" Thompson Retractor is?
The Guru answered:
There is a company called Thompson Surgical Instruments, Inc. The owner's name is Dan Farley. They make a variety of table-mounted retractors. Their website is:
I would suggest you, your surgeon, or staff go on this site to locate the exact retractor you need. Please let us know which model number you prefer! We can offer lower cost equivalents for most of these type of retractors. Call us at 800-600-0428!
The Guru has been asked:
Can you please help me with suppliers and cost for a silber vasovasostomy clamp set?
The Guru answered:
All reference I can find for Dr. Silber is that he uses (or used) the standard Vasovasostomy instruments and the Goldstein MicroSpike approximator clamps which Millennium does offer. If you would like to see pictures and a quote let me know.
We do offer the GU8172; Order #9-128172. We do not have these in stock as they are not very popular. The MicroSpike is an improved Version.
The Guru has been asked:
We need an orthopedic alligator grasper. It has teeth on a moveable top piece, and the bottom has only two teeth and is spoonbilled-like. The only information on the instrument is "Dyonics". I have called the company and they no longer make it. It is in the upbiter family. Can you help us find this?
The Guru answered:
It may be a Hoen Grasping Forceps.
The Guru has been asked:
What is a Ruggles diamond neurology knife?
The Guru answered:
A diamond knife used in Neuro Surgery, was offered in different handle designs (straight & bayonet) with different options for the blade. The blade is made from Gem Quality Diamonds.
If there is a specific design you are looking for we might be able to source it. I can fax you pictures.
The Guru has been asked:
What is the name of the instrument that is placed on the patient in the OR with magnets in it to support the instruments?
The Guru answered:
You are referring to a Magnetic Drape, Millennium Surgical Offers magnetic drapes in various sizes.
The Guru has been asked:
What is a Lady Finger retractor?
The Guru answered:
A Lady Finger retractor is the same thing as a Richardson Retractor.
The Guru has been asked:
I need a Pickle Fork retractor. Can you help me find this? What is it?
The Guru answered:
This is a Double Prong Blount Retractor, used for Patella and Shoulder Surgery.
The Guru has been asked:
I am looking for scleral forceps...do they have a proper name?
The Guru answered:
Several forceps would work:
-Troutman Superior Rectus Forecps
-Castroviejo Fixation forceps, offered in .3mm & .5mm
-Eye Tissue Forceps 1x2 teeth, delicate
The Guru has been asked:
I'm still trying to find a non-disposable suture passer. I've seen the non disposable Carter Thomson suture passer but I can't seem to locate it. Can you please help me?
The Guru answered:
Here is the link which shows the Carter-Thomason CloseSure™ System
Please confirm this is the correct item. I can then confirm if we can locate a reusable version.
The Guru has been asked:
I am looking for a bone scraper used in dentistry. The name is "safescraper," but I can not find it anywhere.
The Guru answered:
Here is a link which shows the product, seems like it may only be offered in the UK.
http://www.generalmedical.co.uk
The Guru has been asked:
I am looking for teeth protectors for my ENT doctor to use for laryngoscopies. He has requested disposable protectors. Can you help me find these?
The Guru answered:
Here is the company name, product information and their phone number:
Pilling Surgical (Teleflex)
Item # 502275 24 pairs
Item # 502276 3 pairs.
800-523-6507
The Guru has been asked:
Looking for price on Euro Med Uterine Tenaculum, or same instrument from any company?
The Guru answered:
Med is no longer in business; however Millennium Surgical offers this instrument. Our part # is 1-711.
The Guru has been asked:
I'm looking for an instrument for OR. The description I have is: Stylus 600 Micron Precision Depth Knife Straight Can you help me locate this instrument?
The Guru answered:
We have these available. Our part number is 67-726003 and they come in boxes of 6.
The Guru has been asked:
I am looking for a "S" shaped retractor. It is 12" long, 1/8" wide and 50 thousand thickness. Can you please help me find one?
The Guru answered:
Here is a picture of a Hasson "S" retractor the length is 12" and the available widths are 5/8" or 3/8". Millennium's part number is 11-MD077 for a set of two.
Used to expose the fascia prior to insertion of the Hasson obturator/cannula. Also can be used to open gallbladder at time of extraction to remove stones.
The Guru has been asked:
What is the name for a Herwig 12-24 instrument?
The Guru answered:
This instrument is called a Peet Forceps. It is angled double curved at 4 3/4"
The Guru has been asked:
What is a Mickey Mouse?
The Guru answered:
A Grooved Director.
The Guru has been asked:
What is a Cookie Cutter?
The Guru answered:
An Areola Marker - a device for measuring and marking a woman's nipples in conjunction with Breast Augmentation Surgery.
The Guru has been asked:
I need a mother-in-law grasper. What is this?
The Guru answered:
A mother-in-law grasper is a 10mm Claw Grasper.
The Guru has been asked:
I am looking for a non disposable Carter-Thomason trocar wound closure system.
The Guru answered:
The Carter-Thompson Wound Closure System is available only through Inlet Medical Systems of Eden Prairie, MN. However Millennium Surgical does offer a non-disposable Laparoscopic Suture Retriever that can be used to close Laparoscopic Trocar Incision Wounds. Millennium part # 72-5220341. We can provide a quote and further details including instructions for using the system and photos of the instrument. Please provide a fax number if you would like to know, receive a quote or see photos of the instrument.
