Par Needle Holder Tungsten Carbide, Delicate Serrated

What the par needle holder is

The par needle holder tungsten carbide is a short ring handle needle holder with a delicate cross serrated jaw, made in 11.5 cm and 12.5 cm. Adas Instruments builds it for work at the surface of a shallow field, where a 15 cm or 18 cm instrument would put the surgeon’s hand in the way of their own view.

A note on the name, because it is fair to be direct about it. Par is the catalogue name for this build. It is not a pattern described in the surgical literature the way Mayo Hegar, Olsen Hegar, Castroviejo or Gillies are, and no textbook sets out a defined par jaw form or size range. What is on this page is therefore described from the instrument itself: its two lengths, its carbide inserts and its serration, all of which are what Adas actually ships.

Surgeons also call it a par needle driver. It belongs to the group of delicate serrated needle holders rather than to the general closure group.

Key design features of the par needle holder

Four features define the par needle holder, and each is a property of the metal.

• Delicate cross serration. Shallower and more closely spaced than the serration on a Crile Wood, so fine thread is held without being crushed.
• Short body. 11.5 cm and 12.5 cm, which is shorter than every other ring handle needle holder in the Adas range.
• Tungsten carbide inserts. Brazed into a milled seat, not coated, and marked by the gold plated finger rings.
• Two to three step ratchet. A positive lock, unlike the single catch on a flat spring handle microsurgical holder.

Par needle holder tungsten carbide sizes and build options

Two lengths of par needle holder are made and both carry the same delicate serrated jaw. Every row below is an option that can be selected on this page.

Both lengths carry item code AF-67.32. There is no smooth jaw or diamond dust version of this build; for those the Castroviejo pattern is the one to order.

Par needle holder uses by specialty

The categories the par needle holder sits in tell you where it is used, and they line up with its size. In every one of these fields the par needle holder is chosen for reach rather than for strength. Everything here is shallow, fine work.

Thread the par needle holder is built to hold

The honest statement on thread is this: Adas has not published a confirmed suture gauge range for this pattern, so none is quoted here. What can be described is the jaw and how it behaves, which is what the table sets out.

When a confirmed range is issued it will be added to this section. Quoting a number that has not been confirmed on a surgical instrument page is worse than leaving the figure out, so the par needle holder page carries the jaw description and no gauge.

How the par needle holder compares with other delicate patterns

The most useful way to choose between these four is by handle and jaw together, because the handle decides how the instrument is held and the jaw decides what it can hold. The par needle holder is the shortest ring handle build in the group.

A par needle holder and a Castroviejo are often shortlisted against each other and they are not interchangeable. The par needle holder locks in steps and is held like a scissor; the Castroviejo has a single catch and is rolled between the fingers to set the needle angle.

Materials and finish

The body is high quality medical grade stainless steel with a satin finish to cut glare under an operating light. The steel itself is made to a German specification. The jaw inserts are tungsten carbide, brazed into a milled seat, and the gold plated finger rings are the trade marker that carbide is fitted rather than a styling choice.

On a jaw this small the insert is a large fraction of the working end, so carbide changes the working life of a par needle holder more than it does on a long general closure holder.

Par needle holder care and sterilization

Clean in the open position with a soft brush and a neutral pH enzymatic cleaner, paying attention to the serration field where fine debris collects. Rinse in deionized water and dry before the jaws are closed.

Autoclave at 134 degrees Celsius for the cycle your center validates, lubricate the joint after each cycle and store unlocked. A delicate serration is shallow by design, so it is the first thing lost to an abrasive pad. Use a brush, never a pad.

Ordering the par needle holder tungsten carbide

Adas Instruments makes the par needle holder tungsten carbide to order for surgeons, clinics and distributors. Item code AF-67.32, with the length chosen at order. Wholesale and bulk pricing is available and distributor orders can carry private label marking on the shank.

Backorder items dispatch in 10 to 12 working days, and every instrument carries a three year replacement against manufacturing defects.

Production is controlled under an ISO 13485 quality management system.

Frequently asked questions

What is a par needle holder used for?

It is used for shallow, fine closure: eyelid and periorbital work, nasal and ear closure, fine breast skin and small vessel repair. The jaw carries a delicate cross serration and the instrument is made in 11.5 cm and 12.5 cm with tungsten carbide inserts.

Is Par a recognised surgical pattern name?

Par is the catalogue name Adas uses for this build. It is not a pattern set out in surgical textbooks or peer reviewed literature, unlike Mayo Hegar or Castroviejo, and no published source defines a par jaw form or size range. The instrument itself is real and shipped; the name is a catalogue name.

What does delicate serrated mean?

It means the cross cut ridges on the jaw face are shallower and more closely spaced than on a general closure holder. The jaw still grips mechanically rather than by pressure alone, but it does so without the ridge depth that flattens fine thread.

Should I order this or a Castroviejo needle holder?

Choose by handle. The par is a ring handle instrument with a stepped ratchet, so it locks positively and is held like a scissor. The Castroviejo has a flat spring handle and a single catch and rolls between the fingers to set a needle angle. For microsurgical work under a scope, the Castroviejo is usually the better tool.

What suture size does it take?

Adas has not confirmed a published gauge range for this pattern, so none is quoted on this page. The jaw is built for fine thread and small needles, and a confirmed range will be added here once it is issued. For a pattern with a confirmed range now, the Crile Wood covers 4-0 to 6-0.

Related products and categories

Surgeons who work with the par needle holder usually compare it against the castroviejo needle holder, the crile wood needle holder and the mayo hegar needle holder. The whole family sits in plastic surgery needle holders, and this pattern is also listed under blepharoplasty instruments.