However, I fear that these methods could possibly weaken the (already delicate) structure of the obsidian. I have considered subjecting the scalpel to strong dose of UV radiation or perhaps 'cleaning' the scalpel with Povidone-Iodine (Betadine). I did try looking up the structure that obsidian assumes at the molecular level, with the hope that the knowledge would help me narrow down possible sterilization methods I could use here, but I drew a blank there as well. Knowing how delicate this thing is, I doubt conventional methods (such as autoclaving it) used to sterilize surgical tools could be safely applied in this case.Īs the use of obsidian blades in surgery is relatively new, I'm not surprised that I can't find any literature dealing with the sterilization of obsidian blades online.
It is so sharp that under a microscope you would be able to visibly see how an obsidian scalpel can cut cells cleanly in half, whereas the cells cut by a steel surgical. This edge is 30 angstroms wide, less than half the width of a red blood cell. I don't actually plan on operating on someone with this, but all the same, I'd like to identify potential methods to sterilize such a blade. When cleaved so it has a knife’s edge, obsidian is one of the sharpest materials known. Now these scalpels are pretty fragile, with some of them having a thickness of the order of 0.1 mm. High quality blades including the exclusive Carbon Rib-Back design allows cutting control.
I recently came across this article on the use of obsidian scalpels in surgery: How Stone Age blades are still cutting it in modern surgery Bard-Parker Non-Sterile Carbon Rib Back Scalpel Blades.
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