Lateral Valve

Description

Lateral Valve

A lateral valve is a side blade for a self-retaining spine retractor. Choose a plain valve or a pronged one to suit the exposure.

Plain valves

Plain valves come in 38 or 58 mm. They give a smooth face against the tissue. So they suit areas where you want no prongs digging into soft tissue near the working level.

Pronged valves

Pronged valves have 2, 3 or 4 prongs. Widths follow the prong count: 22 mm for two, 37 mm for three and 52 mm for four. Also, depths run from 32 to 67 mm.

Prongs or no prongs

Prongs can grip tissue and keep it from sliding back. However, a plain face spreads pressure more evenly. Therefore, many teams keep both styles on hand.

Removing the valves

We sell a 13 cm tweezer made for this job. Then valve changes stay quick at the table. Plus, it keeps fingers away from the frame, and it makes the swap between plain and pronged valves faster.

Reprocessing lateral valve

Brush between the prongs, where tissue tends to lodge. Next, rinse plain and pronged valves and let them dry fully. Finally, sort them by width and depth for the next case.

Lateral valve specifications

• Component: side blade (valve)
• Plain: 38 or 58 mm
• 2 prongs: 22 mm wide
• 3 prongs: 37 mm wide
• 4 prongs: 52 mm wide
• Pronged depths: 32 to 67 mm

Warranty and support

In addition, we cover this instrument for three years against manufacturing defects. Also, we check each piece in Atlanta before shipping. Our FAQs answer common care questions. For background on the steel, see ASTM F899. To remove valves easily, use our lateral valve tweezer. The rest of our surgical retractors is one click away.

Professional use only. Our care and sterilization guide covers images and the nickel in stainless steel; delivery times are in our shipping policy.