Foerster Sponge Forceps, Straight or Curved, 18 cm and 20 cm

What the Foerster sponge forceps is

The foerster sponge forceps is a ring handled instrument with an open oval jaw, made to grasp and hold surgical sponges, gauze squares and swabs. It is listed as Foerster-Ballenger forceps, as sponge holding forceps and as a sponge clamp, and in an American operating room the loaded instrument is called a sponge stick. The jaw is fenestrated, which means it has an open center rather than a solid face, and a ratchet sits just above the finger rings.

That combination is what the instrument is for. The open jaw holds a folded sponge without crushing it, and the ratchet holds the sponge without your hand. Over a long case that matters more than it sounds, because the alternative is squeezing a pair of rings closed for as long as the swabbing takes.

Key design features of the Foerster sponge forceps

Four things decide how this instrument behaves, and all four are visible before you pick it up.

• Open oval fenestrated jaw. The sponge sits inside the ring of the jaw rather than being pinched at the tip.
• Ratchet lock at the finger rings. Set the hold, let go, and release it one handed when the swab is done.
• Serrated or smooth gripping face. Serrations stop gauze sliding. The smooth face is for thin linens and for tissue.
• Straight or curved shank. Straight for surface work, curved when you need to see past your own hand into a cavity.
• Box joint. The halves pass through each other, so the jaws stay aligned after years of autoclaving.

Foerster sponge forceps sizes and build options

The size chart is the variation list, so what is shown is what ships. Choose the length and the tip on the product fields above.

Imperial figures are given because most United States buyers order in inches. Longer patterns of 24 cm and above exist in the trade for deep field work, and we do not list them here because they are not in this variation set. Ask us before you order if you need one.

Foerster sponge forceps uses by specialty

Every one of these uses is the same action seen from a different table: something absorbent is held at the end of a long handle and moved where fingers should not go.

What the jaws hold

This is a holding instrument and not a needle holder, so there is no suture gauge to quote. What matters is what goes in the jaw, and the honest list includes what does not.

How the Foerster sponge forceps compares with other patterns

The question people actually ask is whether ring forceps and sponge forceps are the same instrument. The first row answers it, and the answer is mostly yes.

Foerster sponge forceps materials and finish

The instrument is made from high quality medical grade stainless steel, hardened at the jaw so the serrations keep their edge through repeated autoclave cycles. The finish is satin rather than mirror, which cuts glare under operating lights. The steel itself is made to a German specification. The finished instrument carries the CE mark.

There is no carbide insert on this pattern and none is needed. A sponge forceps grips absorbent material, not suture or bone, and an insert at the tip would add cost without adding hold.

Foerster sponge forceps care and sterilization

Rinse under cold running water straight after use, before blood dries in the serrations and in the fenestration. Use a soft brush, never wire. Open the jaws fully for ultrasonic cleaning and for autoclaving, so the box joint drains and steam reaches the ratchet. Dry completely, then store with the ratchet released so the spring is not held under load between cases.

Ordering Foerster sponge forceps and wholesale

Adas Instruments supplies hospitals, clinics and distributors across the United States, from stock and to order. Wholesale quantities and instrument set builds are quoted on request. Backorder items dispatch in 10 to 12 working days. Item code AE-110.24, and every instrument carries a three year replacement warranty against manufacturing defects. Production is controlled under an ISO 13485 quality management system.

Frequently asked questions

What are Foerster sponge forceps used for?

They hold surgical sponges, gauze squares and swabs at the end of a long handle. In practice that means swabbing blood and fluid from the field, painting a site with antiseptic before draping, and passing folded gauze without touching it. Loaded with gauze, the instrument is what a scrub tech calls a sponge stick.

What is another name for Foerster sponge forceps?

Foerster-Ballenger forceps, sponge holding forceps and sponge clamp all mean this pattern. In general use they are also called ring forceps, which is the wider family name for any ring handled forceps with an open jaw.

What is another name for ring forceps?

Sponge forceps, in most catalogues. Ring forceps describes the handle and the open jaw rather than one pattern, so the Foerster is a ring forceps and so are several other instruments. If the jaw shape matters to your set, order the Foerster pattern by name.

What are the different types of sponge forceps?

They divide three ways: straight or curved shank, serrated or smooth gripping face, and the length. Curved and serrated is the common operating room choice for swabbing at depth; straight and smooth is for surface work and for thin dressings.

Which forceps are non traumatic?

On this pattern, the smooth jaw version. Serrations are there to stop gauze slipping and they will mark tissue, so a smooth face is the one to choose if the instrument will touch anything that has to be left intact. For work on vessels or bowel, a purpose built atraumatic pattern is the right instrument rather than a sponge forceps.

Related products and categories

Buyers who order the foerster sponge forceps usually order alongside it the backhaus towel clamp, the lahey traction forceps and the allis tissue forceps. The whole family sits in hemostats and grasping forceps, and this pattern is also listed under breast surgery instruments.