Foreign Body Needle, Spud and Gouge

Description

Foreign Body Needle, Spud and Gouge

This needle, spud and gouge tool comes in five configurations, so you can choose the exact tips your clinic uses. The options are needle only, spud only, gouge only, needle and gouge, or spud and needle. Each tip suits a different step in clearing the corneal surface.

What each tip does

A needle has a fine point. It gets under the edge of a small speck and lifts it. A spud has a flat, blunt blade, so it pushes or sweeps loose matter off the surface. Finally, a gouge has a small cup that scrapes away residue.

Picking a configuration

• Needle only: for a team that wants one simple tip
• Spud only: for gentle sweeping of loose debris
• Gouge only: when you already own a needle
• Needle and gouge, or spud and needle: two tips on one tool

Why two tips on one tool help

With two tips, you can switch tasks by turning the tool in your hand. As a result, you do not need to set one down and pick up another. That saves time and keeps your eyes on the slit lamp.

Safe practice

Brace your hand on the cheek and keep a shallow angle. Also work under good magnification, since small specks are easy to miss. If the speck lies deep, or the wound looks severe, refer to an eye specialist.

Spud, needle and gouge upkeep

Rinse soon after use, because debris dries into the gouge cup. Then wipe the spud blade as well. Then check the needle point and spud edge under a loupe. Replace any tip that has bent or dulled.

Each configuration ships non-sterile; cleaning and sterilization make it reusable. All five versions use stainless steel to ASTM F899. You also get spud and gouge coverage on all five set-ups for three years against manufacturing defects; spud, needle and gouge tips all count. View our eye instrument collection, see the Stille needle and gouge, or read our FAQs page.

This tool is reserved for clinical professionals. Our foreign body care tips and shipping times pages explain the rest.