Heaney Clamp: Identification, Teeth and Variants
Identify Heaney hysterectomy clamps by serrations, tooth placement and curvature, with documented sizes and a comparison to Heaney-Ballentine forceps.
A Heaney clamp is a ring-handled, ratchet-locking hysterectomy forceps used to grasp uterine ligaments. In Sklar’s standard Heaney pattern, the jaws have full-length diagonal serrations and one or two teeth. Sklar’s related Heaney-Ballentine pattern has longitudinal serrations instead. That jaw-surface difference is more useful for identification than length alone. (Sklar Heaney, Sklar Heaney-Ballentine)
What to look for
For instrument identification, examine the handle form, jaw surface and tooth placement together:
- Finger rings and a ratchet: these identify the locking clamp form, but do not distinguish Heaney from other ring-handled forceps.
- Diagonal jaw serrations: Sklar describes these as extending along the full jaw of its standard Heaney forceps.
- Teeth within the jaw: on Sklar’s single-tooth 90-1977, the tooth is slightly below the tip. Its double-tooth 90-2280 has one tooth slightly below the tip and another halfway down the inner jaw.
- Pattern and curvature: light and heavy patterns exist; the two Sklar examples above are curved. Record these features rather than treating every Heaney as the same instrument. (90-1977 specification, 90-2280 specification)
On Sklar 90-2280, “double tooth” describes teeth at two positions along the jaw—not a terminal 1 × 2 tooth arrangement. Do not assume other manufacturers use the term identically.
Documented sizes and variants
These are individual catalogue examples, not a universal Heaney size range. Dimensions are reproduced as stated by each manufacturer.
| Manufacturer and model | Catalogue name | Overall length | Distinguishing details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sklar 90-1977 | Heaney forceps | 7¾ in / 197 mm | Curved; light pattern; diagonal serrations; single tooth below tip |
| Sklar 90-2280 | Heaney forceps | 8 in / 203 mm | Curved; heavy pattern; diagonal serrations; double tooth |
| Pilling 214170 | Heaney hysterectomy forceps | 8¼ in / 21 cm | Curved; serrated; light jaws; single groove |
| Aesculap MD591 | Heaney-Ballentine hysterectomy forceps | 8½ in / 215 mm | Straight; longitudinally serrated jaws |
Heaney-Ballantine is another catalogue spelling: Pilling uses it for model 214180, a straight, single-groove clamp listed at 8¼ in (21 cm). Do not use the spelling alone to decide whether two instruments match. (Pilling 214180)
Avoid name-only identification
“Heaney” also appears on needle holders. Aesculap lists the curved, serrated, 8-inch BM259R under needle holders, separately from its hysterectomy clamps. A ring handle, curve and Heaney name therefore do not establish the instrument’s role. (Aesculap OB/GYN catalogue)
For a tray record or replacement request, capture the manufacturer, catalogue number, overall length, jaw curvature, serration direction, tooth positions and light/heavy designation. If only the surname is known, keep the identification provisional until those features match the exact catalogue entry.
This is an instrument-identification reference, not guidance on clamp placement or surgical technique.