A post mortem scalp raspatory separates the scalp and periosteum from the skull during autopsy a tissue elevator, not an abrasive bone rasp, designed to lift dense soft tissue cleanly off the cranial surface. Peak Surgicals supplies the pattern in stainless steel at $27.50, SKU PS-P-00026. It is CE marked and built under ISO 13485. See the instrument in the grid below.

What a Scalp Raspatory Does in Autopsy

The Post Mortem Scalp Raspatory ($27.50) reflects the scalp and strips periosteum from the skull after the primary incision, so the calvarium can be exposed for removal and examination of the brain. It is a tissue-separating instrument the name rasp describes the family, but the function is elevation and reflection, not the abrasive contouring an orthopaedic bone rasp performs.

The procedure sets the requirement. In a standard autopsy the scalp is incised across a coronal plane connecting the two mastoids, and the scalp is then reflected forward over the face and backward over the occiput to expose the skull. The raspatory works at that stage, separating the tissue from bone where it adheres — particularly the periosteum, which binds tightly to the cranial surface. A clean reflection matters for two reasons: it exposes the skull fully for the saw, and it leaves the scalp intact for the mortician to close afterward. The instrument's edge lifts and separates rather than cuts, which is what protects the tissue during that reflection. We supply it at MOQ 1.

Material, Reprocessing and Certification

The raspatory is forged from stainless steel built to withstand the reprocessing a mortuary instrument sees — repeated sterilisation without surface degradation. The working edge is the inspection point: it should lift and separate tissue cleanly, so check it for burrs or damage that would tear rather than reflect. Ultrasonic-clean before autoclaving so tissue residue does not set on the working end, and follow the facility's protocol for instruments used in post-mortem examination.

The instrument is Class I, reusable, CE marked and built under ISO 13485 — the documentation a supply team verifies before qualifying a vendor. Warranty is one year with return-and-replacement, MOQ is 1 piece, orders over $99 ship free in carton box packing, and OEM marking is available for distributors. For the full autopsy range see post mortem instruments; related probing instruments sit in post mortem probes. Talk to us about OEM and volume terms.