What does "SH needle " stand for?

February 6, 2009 4:41 AM

What does the acronym "SH," as in an SH surgical needle, stand for?
posted by junebug to Science & Nature (5 answers total)

Best answer: Small Half-circle, for the size and cross section.

But I had to ask three different surgeons to find one who knew that. They all just think of it as "an SH needle."

Confirmed by this chart which also shows MH, LH, and XLH sizes... and many more.
posted by rokusan at 6:03 AM on February 6, 2009

Best answer: SMALL HALF!!! As in half-circle, because the needle is shaped like a half-circle.

Damn, that was tough. I almost didn't think I was going to get it.

You'll also find RH - round half, MH - medium half, LH - large half, XLH - extra large half, XXLH - extra extra large half, etc., in surgical supply catalogs like this.

There is more information about needles than I even knew existed in the Ethicon Wound Closure Manual. At the bottom of page 51 is the chart of needle codes where I found this.

Here is a photograph of an Ethicon SH needle, it's the one on top.

But arrgh, rokusan ya beat me to it.
posted by XMLicious at 6:04 AM on February 6, 2009

P.S. hey! Asking surgeons is cheating! (Just kidding, I would've done the same if I, uh, had some surgeons.)
posted by XMLicious at 6:06 AM on February 6, 2009

I found the chart on my own to confirm, XML, since only 1 out of 3 doctors surveyed agreed... ;)
posted by rokusan at 6:08 AM on February 6, 2009

It's a size designation.
posted by plexi at 8:17 AM on February 6, 2009