Potts-Smith Scissors — Pattern and Clinical Use
An arteriotomy must be a clean, controlled incision in a vessel wall — ragged edges do not appose well and compromise the anastomosis. Potts-Smith scissors have fine, sharply angled blades that let the surgeon enter the vessel lumen and extend the opening along the wall at a controlled angle. The angle between blade and shank is the defining feature and is supplied in several options.
Blade angle is chosen by approach: 25, 45, 60 and 90 degree patterns let the surgeon cut along the vessel regardless of how it lies in the field. Blade tips must be fine enough to enter a small arteriotomy without tearing.
Potts-Smith Scissors Variants and Specifications
Standard Potts-Smith angles.
| Blade angle | Typical use |
|---|---|
| 25 degrees | Shallow-angle extension |
| 45 degrees | General arteriotomy extension |
| 60 degrees | Steeper approach |
| 90 degrees | Perpendicular access |
| Fine tips | Entering a small arteriotomy |
| Tungsten-carbide insert | Extended edge life |
Material, Finish and Quality Control
We forge Potts-Smith scissors from AISI 420 martensitic stainless. Blade angle is gauged to pattern and tip meeting verified under magnification, since a fine tip that gaps tears the vessel wall. Each batch passes Rockwell hardness testing, dimensional checks on blade angle and tip meeting, and visual inspection under our ISO 13485 system before passivation and final finishing. Mirror and satin finishes are both available — satin is usually specified where glare under operating lights is a concern.
Who Sources Potts-Smith Scissors From Surgical Star
Potts-Smith scissors sell to cardiac and vascular surgical distributors as angle sets, since a surgeon selects the angle by how the vessel lies in the field.
OEM, Certification and Ordering
Every Potts-Smith scissors can be produced as a private-label line: your logo laser-marked on the shank, your catalog numbers, and your own printed packaging, manufactured from your drawings or a reference sample. Production runs inside a documented ISO 13485 quality system, with CE marking under EU MDR 2017/745 and US FDA establishment registration behind it. Your shipment carries a certificate of conformity plus the ASTM F899 material certificate for the grade actually used.
Minimums stay deliberately low so a new brand can launch without a heavy first order, and pricing is quoted direct from the factory on volume tiers. Bulk production usually takes four to six weeks from sample approval, shipped DDP with export paperwork and HS codes handled. See how OEM & private label works →
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Potts scissors angled?
So the surgeon can extend an arteriotomy along the vessel wall regardless of how the vessel lies in the field. Several angles are supplied for that reason.
Which angle is most used?
45 degrees is the general-purpose choice, with 25, 60 and 90 degree patterns for shallower and steeper approaches.
Why do the tips need to be so fine?
They must enter a small arteriotomy without tearing the wall, so tip fineness and exact meeting are verified under magnification.
Can you manufacture these under our own brand?
Yes — full OEM and private label. We laser-mark your logo and catalog numbers, pack in your branded boxes, and work from your drawings, tech pack or a reference sample, with a pre-production sample approved before any bulk run.
Send your pattern list, drawing or a reference sample and we’ll quote MOQ, pricing and lead time — standard catalog or fully private-label.
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