Probes

Surgical probes are thin, blunt instruments for exploring a duct, sinus tract or wound, and for guiding a ligature or another instrument into place. What sets them apart is the tip: a round button so the probe cannot perforate tissue, an eye to carry a suture or seton, or a fine graduated shaft for lacrimal work.

This collection covers general, lacrimal and microsurgical probes. Order single instruments or send a list for a quote. Everything ships free within the US and carries our 5-year warranty.

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What This Collection Covers

Lacrimal probes — Bowman probes in graduated double-ended sizes for the tear duct
Buttoned (probe-pointed) probes — blunt ball tip for fistula tracts and wound exploration
Probes with eye — for threading a ligature, seton or drain through a tract
Ligature guides and conductors — Brunner ligature conductor and guiding probe, Yasargil ligature guide for deep neurosurgical and vascular work

Buttoned, Eyed or Graduated?

A buttoned tip is for exploring: it follows the tract without making a false passage. An eyed probe is for passing something through the tract once it is found. A graduated lacrimal probe is sized in steps so the canaliculus can be dilated progressively.

How to Choose

Procedure. Anal fistula and sinus tract work: buttoned and eyed probes. Tear duct: Bowman lacrimal probes. Deep vessel ligation: a ligature guide.

Length and flexibility. Malleable silver-type probes bend to follow a curved tract; stiffer stainless probes give better feedback in straight tracts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Bowman probe?
A fine double-ended lacrimal probe used in graduated sizes to probe and dilate the nasolacrimal duct.

What is a ligature conductor?
An instrument that carries a ligature around a vessel or structure in a deep or narrow field where fingers cannot reach.