

This seals the joint between the blade and the handle, and enables the knife to be autoclaved.

The relatively inexpensive obsidian scalpel is a good substitute for an expensive diamond knife. In fact, despite a lack of FDA approval, some surgeons routinely use obsidian scalpels as they have some significant advantages over their steel counterparts. It is ideal for applications where an extremely fine cutting action is required or where trace metals from ordinary scalpel blades cannot be tolerated. An obsidian blade can hold an edge of just 30 angstroms, making it sharper than any modern scalpel.

They are so fine that they are used in human surgical procedures where objectionable scar tissue might result from the use of a coarser scalpel. Obsidian is a type of volcanic glass that produces a much finer blade than conventional steel. For applications where an extremely fine cutting action is required or for studies where trace metals from ordinary scalpel blades cannot be tolerated, these very special obsidian scalpels may provide the answer.
