Behind the Scenes: Surgical Holdings’ Duo Surface Finish Enhances Surgical Instrument Performance
In celebration of Surgical Holdings’ 35th anniversary, we are delighted to offer an exclusive behind-the-scenes glimpse into our state-of-the-art workshop in Southend. As part of our commitment to providing high-quality, safe and premium surgical instruments, we are excited to showcase our innovative Duo Surface Finish. This unique finish, meticulously applied across our general surgery theatre range of instruments, combines a bright polished finish with a satin finish. Not only does this finishing technique exemplify our dedication to excellence, but it is also rooted in rigorous scientific research.
In this article, we will explore the science behind our Duo Surface Finish and its role in improving cleaning efficacy and reducing the risk of contamination.
What exactly is DUO Surface Finish?
The idea of applying a Duo-Surface finish to standard surgical instrumentation such as Artery forceps, Scissors and Needle Holders was thought up by our Chairman Philip Coole. By thoroughly reviewing researching and understanding the needs of our customers, we have seamlessly integrated two distinct surface finishes into a single instrument.
The first includes a satin finish on the shafts and bodies of the instrument to minimise the glare from the theatre lights during surgery whilst ensuring a smooth surface. In contrast, the working ends of the instruments boast a bright polish finish, maximising cleaning efficiency, stainless steel corrosion resistance, and reducing wettability.
This innovative combination is instrumental in reducing the risk of protein and bioburden adherence, thus significantly improving decontamination processes.
Combatting protein adhesion and cross-contamination
Ensuring the highest level of sterility and cleanliness in surgical instruments is paramount for patient safety. The Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 01-01, published in 2013, sets stringent standards for protein adhesion levels on surgical instruments. Inadequate removal of residual protein poses potential risks for the transmission of prions, including variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD). These prions exhibit unique properties that make them highly resistant to degradation through conventional reprocessing methods.
“Modified instrument surfaces significantly improve decontamination processes”
Scientific studies, including recent research by Herve et al, have demonstrated remarkable reductions in protein and prion amyloid contamination on modified instrument surfaces, resulting in improved decontamination efficacy.
Our own studies on protein retention have further validated these findings, revealing that a bright polish finish removes four times more protein compared to a rough surface, therefore reducing any chance of cross-contamination and vCJD risk.
Additionally, research conducted by the Stainless Steel Association’s Honess and Harrison in 2006 also emphasised that a finer surface finish enhances corrosion resistance and overall device performance by reducing water and prion adherence.
The birth of Duo Surface Finish
Driven by these groundbreaking findings, we took a proactive approach to address protein adhesion and corrosion resistance concerns. The result? Our innovative Duo Surface Finish, built on a solid body of scientific research, practical insights and customer needs.
The development of this new finish involved a meticulous examination of the essential needs of modern surgical instruments, including reducing glare, enhancing cleaning efficacy, ensuring corrosion resistance, and delivering a smoother finish. Our devices now feature a mirror polish finish on the working ends, guaranteeing exceptional cleaning efficacy and corrosion resistance. To combat glare from surgical lights, we have implemented a delicate ‘wet bead’ finish on the back end of the instrument, resulting in an anti-glare effect. This unique combination equips surgeons with unrivalled instruments in terms of quality and functionality.
Dan Coole, Managing Director at Surgical Holdings, said: “While this finish had previously been seen on the ends of self-retaining retractors, it had never been applied to common instruments due to the additional time and cost involved. In 2006, we designed a range of different instruments and obtained design protection to ensure exclusivity for our company. Since implementing the Duo Surface Finish, we have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from customers in hospitals across the UK and around the world.”
Surgical Holdings is proud to announce that we have successfully obtained design registration for the innovative Duo finish, which has been implemented across our comprehensive range of common general instruments. To learn more about our groundbreaking Duo Surface Finish, please reach out to us at 01702 602050, or via email at info@surgicalholdings.co.uk. You can also visit our YouTube channel to find out more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXqFSbSCm4w