Foerster Sponge Forceps — Straight, Serrated 20cm

Overview

The Foerster Sponge Forceps — Straight, Serrated (20cm) is precision-machined from surgical-grade stainless steel with carefully aligned tips for a secure, predictable grip. Whether grasping tissue, holding swabs or achieving haemostasis, the instrument delivers consistent spring tension and tactile control.

The Foerster sponge forceps is a ring-handled, ratcheted sponge-holding forceps built for one of the most repeated tasks in any procedural setting: holding gauze swabs and sponges for skin preparation, swabbing and blotting within the operative field. The oval, fenestrated jaws of this 20cm straight pattern carry fine serrations that bite into folded gauze so a soaked swab stays put through vigorous prepping strokes. Once loaded and ratcheted, the instrument frees the operator to concentrate on technique rather than grip, prep after prep.

TGA-registered and manufactured under ISO 13485 certification, the instrument is machined from surgical-grade stainless steel with a smooth box joint and a positive ratchet that locks the swab in place hands-free. The straight 20cm configuration is the compact option in the Foerster family — long enough to keep gloved fingers away from the prep solution and the field, short enough to stay nimble during superficial and minor-procedure work.

JV Medical supplies Foerster and Rampley sponge-holding forceps to hospitals, GP procedure rooms and day surgeries throughout Western Australia from Perth.

Also known as: Foerster sponge-holding forceps, Sponge holder 20cm, Swab forceps, Ring forceps, Foerster ovum-type forceps.

Care & sterilisation

Clean promptly after use, paying attention to serrations and box joints. Sterilise in an open position and inspect tip alignment regularly to maintain performance.

Clinical applications

Hospitals · Day surgery units · GP procedure rooms · Obstetrics & gynaecology units · Emergency departments · Skin cancer clinics

Common procedures

Foerster sponge forceps are used to grip gauze for pre-operative skin preparation with antiseptic solutions, intra-operative swabbing and blotting, and general handling of sponges and packing. In obstetric and gynaecological settings the pattern is also widely used for swabbing and for grasping soft tissue where its fenestrated jaws are appropriate.

Recommended users

Theatre nurses · Surgeons · Obstetricians and gynaecologists · General practitioners · Scrub technicians · Midwives

Buying guide

Within our Foerster range the choice is length: this 20cm pattern suits superficial skin prep, minor procedures and compact trays, while the 25cm version (FSH-SS25) provides extra reach for deep-cavity swabbing and larger fields. If you prefer the traditional Australian dressing-pack style of sponge holder, compare the Rampley pattern (18cm and 21cm), which performs the same prepping and swabbing role. Many theatres standardise on one long and one short sponge holder per tray, so mixing lengths is common practice.

Care & maintenance

• Cleaning: Unlock the ratchet and open the jaws fully before cleaning; brush the jaw serrations and fenestrations where gauze fibres and dried solution collect, then rinse thoroughly.
• Sterilisation: Steam sterilise in the open position per your validated autoclave cycle; the box joint and ratchet faces must be exposed to steam, so never process the instrument locked.
• Maintenance: Lubricate the box joint routinely and confirm the ratchet holds firmly at each position under load — a slipping ratchet risks dropping a swab into the field. Inspect jaw serrations for wear.
• Storage: Store dry and unlocked in a rack or tray that supports the shanks; keep prepping instruments separate from fine tissue instruments to avoid impact damage.

• Surgical-grade stainless steel with corrosion-resistant finish
• Precisely aligned serrated or toothed tips
• Consistent spring tension for fatigue-free handling
• Fully autoclavable for repeated sterilisation
• Trusted patterns used across general practice, nursing and theatre settings
• Oval fenestrated jaws with fine serrations lock folded gauze securely
• Ratchet lock holds a soaked swab without continuous grip pressure
• Straight 20cm pattern — the compact, manoeuvrable Foerster option
• TGA-registered and made by an ISO 13485-certified manufacturer
• Ring handles allow controlled prepping strokes at full reach

• Serrated fenestrated jaws — swabs cannot rotate or pull free mid-prep
• Hands-free ratchet — load the swab once and prep without regripping
• 20cm reach — keeps gloves clear of antiseptic solution and the sterile field
• Autoclavable stainless steel — a tray staple that reprocesses cycle after cycle
• TGA-registered — straightforward compliance for hospital procurement