Directors — Proctology Instruments
A director is a thin, grooved instrument used to guide a probe, scalpel, or other instrument safely along a fistula tract during proctology procedures — most commonly fistulotomy. The groove runs the length of the director, letting a blade follow it precisely so the surgeon can open the tract along a controlled line rather than cutting blind.
What's in This Collection
The Lockhart Mummer Fistula Director is used to trace and guide instrumentation through a fistula-in-ano tract during surgical treatment, giving the surgeon a defined path to follow when opening the tract. The Fistula Probe Sterling (6¾") serves a closely related function — probing and exploring the tract before or during the same procedure, often used alongside a director rather than instead of one.
How a Director Is Used
A director is typically introduced into the fistula tract first, confirming its path and depth. Once the tract is traced, the surgeon can either follow the director's groove with a scalpel to lay the tract open, or use it to guide a seton or other instrument through the tract for staged treatment. This two-step approach — probe or trace, then guide — is why directors and fistula probes are so often stocked and used together.
Related Instruments
A fistulotomy or fistula tract procedure typically draws from several proctology categories at once. Pair this collection with our broader Probes and Grooved Dissectors range, which includes additional fistula probe patterns (Buie, Barr, Pratt) and eyelet probes for seton placement. For tissue control during the same procedure, see Clamps, and for exposure, Proctology Retractors. For internal visualization before treatment begins, browse Proctoscopes. For the complete proctology range, visit Proctology Instruments.
Ordering
Peak Surgicals manufactures and supplies proctology directors and probes in bulk for hospitals, clinics, and distributors worldwide, with international shipping and custom logo branding available on request — contact our team for a wholesale quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a director used for in proctology?
A director is a grooved instrument used to guide a scalpel or other instrument safely along a fistula tract, most commonly during fistulotomy, so the tract can be opened along a precise, controlled line.
What's the difference between a director and a fistula probe?
Both trace a fistula tract, but a director's groove is specifically designed to guide a following instrument (like a scalpel) along the tract, while a probe is primarily used to explore and confirm the tract's path and depth.
Are a director and probe used together?
Often, yes — a probe is typically used first to trace and confirm the tract, with a director then guiding the next instrument through or along that same path.
