Senn-Miller Retractor – Double-Ended Cat’s Paw

The cat’s paw is the curved pronged end, and it works by hooking into tissue rather than pressing against it. A blade keeps tissue back by pressure and slips when the angle changes; curved prongs engage the edge and seat more firmly as traction increases. Having both on one instrument means the surgeon chooses the mechanism by reversing it.

That matters because the two suit different tissue. Prongs grip a skin or fascial edge that a blade would slide off; the blade holds a broad stretch that prongs would tear. In general and plastic work both come up within the same procedure, and reversing an instrument is faster than reaching for another. J2 is a harder stainless grade, which keeps the fine prongs from rounding off under repeated use.

Specifications