Types of Surgical Forceps: Patterns and Sizes

How surgical forceps differ

Surgical forceps are hand-held instruments for grasping and holding. The name covers many patterns. Two forceps can share a name and still differ in size, jaw and handle.

This guide sorts forceps into three builds. Thumb forceps are held between thumb and fingers and have no lock. Ring-handled forceps use finger rings, and locking patterns most often use a ratchet near the rings. Long-shaft forceps put small jaws at the end of a shaft, with the handle at the other end.

The Surgical Forceps page covers thumb, ring-handled and long-shaft forceps. Hemostats, bone-holding forceps and arthroscopic or urology forceps are listed on their own pages. The sections below explain each type and where to find it.

Clear Choice Medical is an independent dealer of new and used instruments, not affiliated with any manufacturer. Brand and pattern names identify equipment only. Inventory changes as items sell, so use the current listing.

Tissue and dressing forceps

Thumb forceps can be sorted into tissue forceps and dressing forceps. Tissue forceps have fine tips, often with small teeth or serrations. Dressing forceps have wider, flatter tips that are smooth or serrated. The naming is not always strict, and one maker lists an Adson dressing forceps with serrations and 1 x 2 teeth.

Teeth are written as two numbers. On 1 x 2 teeth, a single tooth on one tip meshes with two teeth on the other tip.

Adson: A short thumb forceps with fine tips. One maker lists it at 4-3/4 to 5 inches (12 to 13 cm) with 1.2 to 1.4 mm tips. It comes with 1 x 2 teeth or with serrated tips.
DeBakey: A thumb forceps with rows of fine teeth, which one maker describes as 1 x 2 rows. Catalogs often label the pattern atraumatic and give a jaw width, such as 1.5 mm or 2.0 mm.
Russian: A tissue forceps pattern that runs across a wide range of lengths. One maker lists it from 6 inches (15 cm) to 14 inches (36 cm).
Bayonet patterns: A bayonet forceps has an offset, bayonet-shaped handle that keeps the hand out of the line of sight. Cushing and Gerald patterns come in bayonet form. One maker offers the Gerald with serrated or toothed tips.
Castroviejo: A fine ophthalmic thumb forceps. Catalogs give the tooth size in millimeters, such as 0.12 mm. Some versions add a tying platform.

Listings on the Surgical Forceps page may include Adson, DeBakey and Russian patterns. Cushing, Gerald and Castroviejo patterns may appear too. Match the pattern first. Then compare overall length, tip width and the tooth or serration pattern.

Ring-handled tissue and sponge forceps

Some tissue forceps use finger rings and a ratchet instead of a spring handle. Once closed, the ratchet keeps the jaws clamped.

Allis: Finger-ring forceps with a ratchet and teeth at the jaw tips. Catalogs state the teeth as a pair of numbers, such as 4 x 5 or 5 x 6.
Babcock: Finger-ring forceps with a ratchet and wide, rounded jaws. The tips are triangular and fenestrated, with horizontal serrations.
Foerster sponge forceps: Finger-ring forceps with a ratchet and oval, fenestrated tips. One maker lists serrated tips, straight or curved, in several lengths.

Listings on the Surgical Forceps page may include Allis, Babcock and Foerster patterns. The Babcock name also appears on laparoscopic graspers with the same jaw shape. Check a Babcock or Allis listing for a shaft diameter to tell the two forms apart.

Hemostatic forceps and clamps

Hemostats are locking forceps with finger rings and a ratchet. Catalogs call them hemostatic forceps, and some group them with clamps. On this site, hemostats and other clamp patterns are listed on the Surgical Clamps page.

Kelly: One maker describes the jaws as one third the length of the shanks. The serrations cover half the jaw length.
Crile: One maker describes horizontal serrations along the entire jaw. It lists the jaws as half the length of the shank.
Mosquito: A small hemostat pattern with serrated jaws and a ratcheted finger-ring handle. One maker lists it at 5 to 5-1/2 inches.
Kocher: One maker describes horizontal serrations along the full jaw, with 1 x 2 teeth at the tip. That maker lists the pattern as Rochester-Ochsner (Kocher).

Kelly, Crile, mosquito and Kocher patterns each come with straight or curved jaws. Compare the jaw curve and overall length as well as the pattern name.

Graspers, cup and biopsy forceps

Long-shaft forceps carry small jaws at the end of a shaft. They include laparoscopic grasping forceps, nasal cup forceps and ear alligator forceps.

Laparoscopic graspers are listed by shaft diameter and working length. The most common diameter is 5 mm. Standard working lengths run about 34 to 37 cm, and longer versions exist.

Jaw action: Single-action jaws have one fixed jaw and one moving jaw. Double-action jaws move both jaws.
Insulation and connector: Makers state whether the shaft is insulated and whether it has a coagulation connector pin. Some graspers have no connector at all.
Rotation and ratchet: Many graspers rotate at the working end. Handles come with or without a ratchet.
Units: Working length may appear in centimeters or millimeters, such as 36 cm or 360 mm. Convert to one unit before you compare.

Nasal cup forceps such as the Blakesley have cup-shaped jaws. Makers list a size number, a cup size in millimeters and a jaw direction, such as straight or up 45 degrees. Some catalogs give both a working length and an overall length.

Laparoscopic graspers are listed on the Laparoscopic Graspers page. Listings on the Surgical Forceps page may include Blakesley cup forceps and laparoscopic dissectors. Biopsy and alligator forceps may appear there too. Compare the jaw shape, tip size and working length shown in each listing.

Bone-holding and reduction forceps

Bone-holding forceps are orthopedic forceps with jaws that grip bone or a plate. Named patterns include the Lane and the self-centering Verbrugge. One maker also lists plate and bone holding forceps.

A bone-holding pattern can come with or without a ratchet. One maker lists Lane bone-holding forceps both ways, so check the handle in the listing photos.

On this site, bone-holding forceps are listed on the Bone Holding & Reduction page under Orthopedic, Spine & Neuro.

Arthroscopic and urology forceps

Arthroscopic forceps, such as punches and graspers, carry small jaws on a slender shaft. One maker's small joint set lists punches on a 2.75 mm shaft. Tips come straight or angled, such as 15 degrees up or 45 degrees right.

Listings on the Urology Forceps page may include optical forceps and flexible forceps sized in French. One maker lists a flexible biopsy forceps at 5 Fr with a 73 cm working length.

Arthroscopic forceps and urology forceps each have their own page on this site. For forceps that work with an endoscope system, match the maker, model and system details before you order.

How to compare two forceps

Start with the maker and the model, catalog or reference number, where one is shown. Some listings do not carry one, so compare the physical details as well.

Pattern name: Match the named pattern, such as Adson, Allis or Blakesley. Some patterns carry two names, such as Rochester-Ochsner (Kocher) or Wilde (Blakesley).
Overall length: Thumb and ring-handled forceps are sized by overall length. Catalogs often give inches and centimeters, such as 4-3/4 inches (12 cm).
Tip or jaw width: Fine patterns add a tip or jaw width in millimeters, such as 1.3 mm or 2.0 mm.
Teeth and serrations: Record the tooth count, such as 1 x 2 or 5 x 6. If there are no teeth, note serrated or smooth tips.
Jaw pattern and curve: Note straight or curved jaws, cup jaws and any angle, such as up 45 degrees.
Handle and lock: Check for a spring handle, finger rings or a ratchet. Some patterns come with and without a ratchet.
Long-shaft details: Compare shaft diameter and working length. Then check jaw action, insulation and rotation.

Clear Choice Medical photographs the actual listed item. Use the photos to compare tips, teeth and handles. Read the listing title for any size or catalog number.

Every item ships non-sterile, and your facility processes it before clinical use. Clear Choice Medical offers a 30-day warranty against functional defects. All sales are final. We do not accept returns.

Surgical forceps buyer checklist

Note the maker and the model, catalog or reference number, where one is marked.
Identify the build: thumb, ring-handled or long-shaft.
Match the pattern name, including any second name the maker uses.
Compare the teeth, serrations and jaw shape, including any curve or angle.
Compare overall length, or shaft diameter and working length for long-shaft forceps.
Check the handle for finger rings, a ratchet or a lock.
Review the actual-item photos and the current purchase terms before you order.

Buyer FAQ

What are the main types of surgical forceps?

Types of surgical forceps include thumb forceps, ring-handled forceps and long-shaft forceps. Thumb forceps have no lock and include tissue and dressing forceps. Ring-handled forceps use finger rings, and locking patterns most often use a ratchet. Hemostats, such as Kelly and Crile patterns, are ring-handled locking forceps. Long-shaft forceps carry small jaws at the end of a shaft, as on laparoscopic graspers. Bone-holding forceps are orthopedic forceps with jaws that grip bone or a plate. Compare the pattern name, jaw, length and handle within each type.

What is the difference between Adson and DeBakey forceps?

Both are thumb forceps, but they differ in tip design and length. Adson forceps are short, with fine tips. One maker lists them at 4-3/4 to 5 inches (12 to 13 cm) with 1.2 to 1.4 mm tips. They come with 1 x 2 teeth or serrated tips. DeBakey forceps have rows of fine teeth, which one maker describes as 1 x 2 rows. They can run longer, and one maker lists 6-1/4 and 9-1/4 inch versions. Match the pattern, length and tip width of the forceps you use now.

What is the difference between Allis and Babcock forceps?

Both are ring-handled tissue forceps with a ratchet, but their jaws differ. Allis jaws have teeth at the tips, such as 4 x 5 or 5 x 6. Babcock jaws are wider and rounded, with fenestrated tips and horizontal serrations. The Babcock name also appears on laparoscopic graspers, which carry the same jaw on a long shaft. Check the listing for a shaft diameter to tell the two forms apart. Then compare overall length and jaw width.

Is a hemostat a type of surgical forceps?

Yes. A hemostat is a locking forceps with finger rings and a ratchet, and catalogs list it as hemostatic forceps. Kelly, Crile, mosquito and Kocher are hemostat patterns. They differ in jaw length, serration layout and tip teeth. On this site, hemostats are listed on the Surgical Clamps page rather than the Surgical Forceps page. Compare the pattern name, overall length and straight or curved jaws before you order.

What do single-action and double-action jaws mean on a laparoscopic grasper?

Single-action jaws have one fixed jaw and one moving jaw, while double-action jaws move both jaws. Makers state the jaw action along with shaft diameter and working length. Graspers usually have a handle, an insulated sheath and a central working device. When you replace a grasper or one of its parts, match the jaw action as well as the jaw pattern and size.

What do size numbers mean on Blakesley nasal forceps?

A size number identifies the cup size within a maker's Blakesley range. One maker lists size 00 at 2.5 mm, size 0 at 3.5 mm and size 1 at 4.0 mm. Another lists a size 1 with 4 mm x 10 mm cups. The same size can come straight or angled up 45 degrees. Match the size number, cup width and jaw direction of the forceps you use now.

Types of surgical forceps: patterns, jaws and sizes