Veterinary cartilage instruments are not a set of unrelated tools; the three patterns here run in sequence through a femoral head and neck ostectomy. Peak Surgicals stocks the Martin Cartilage Clamp (PS-VS-00762, $13.20), the Femoral Ligament Cutter Hatt Spoon ($51.69), and the Smillie Cartilage Knife ($27.50), all in German stainless steel and CE-marked and built under ISO 13485. Compare all three patterns in the grid below.
Which Instrument Does What in an FHO?
The Hatt spoon exists because the round ligament has to come out completely, and a curette leaves fibres behind at the fovea capitis that go on to form granulation tissue. Its curved, spoon-shaped working end scoops the ligament off its attachment in one pass rather than scraping at it, which is why FHO sets carry one alongside curved Mayo scissors.
Femoral Ligament Cutter Hatt Spoon ($51.69) handles that step. Martin Cartilage Clamp (PS-VS-00762, $13.20) holds the cartilage or ligament under tension so the cut is made against a fixed structure instead of a moving one, and Smillie Cartilage Knife ($27.50) makes the incision itself. Clamp, scoop, cut, in that order. We supply every pattern at MOQ 1.
The Smillie Pattern and Why the T-Handle Matters
The Smillie pattern is a T-shaped handle with a spatula-type working end, and the shape is the whole point. Ian Scott Smillie, who held the first Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery at St Andrews and later Dundee and was elected president of the International Society of the Knee in 1981, designed the knife to resect torn cartilage through a limited opening before arthroscopy existed. The T-handle lets the hand drive the blade forward under control when the surgeon cannot see the blade tip.
That geometry carries directly into small-animal work, where joint access is narrow for the same reasons. The spatula end presents a broad, shallow blade rather than a point, so it separates along a cartilage plane instead of stabbing through it. In canine stifle and hip procedures, that difference decides whether adjacent ligament and capsule survive the approach intact.
Material, Reprocessing and Certification
All three patterns are forged from German stainless steel and passivated for corrosion resistance across repeated cycles. On the knife and spoon, the inspection point is the working edge: check the Smillie blade for nicks along the spatula edge and the Hatt spoon rim for flattening, since a dulled scoop tears the ligament instead of lifting it. On the clamp, close to the first ratchet tooth and confirm it holds without slipping. Clean immediately after use with a neutral-pH enzymatic solution, working into the spoon bowl and the clamp box lock, then rinse with deionised water and dry fully before autoclaving at 134°C.
These are Class I reusable devices, CE marked and built under ISO 13485, with a one-year manufacturing warranty. We ship at MOQ 1 with free shipping over $99, and OEM and private-label production is available for distributors. Browse the full Veterinary Surgical Instruments range, or see our human orthopedic Cartilage Scissors and Meniscus Knives collections. Talk to us about OEM terms.
