Ultimate podiatry comfort by design - SUSOL Nipper
So, what makes the Susol Nipper such an innovative instrument?
As the nipper is a single use product, the cutting edge is very sharp. Sharper, in general, compared to the reusable nipper edge. In post-market surveillance, the cutting performance is amongst the main features that a clinician looks for.
Another major factor for the clinician is comfort. Does the nipper feel comfortable when used. The Susol nipper stands out as it has the now famous ‘blue handles’. Why? In the design phase, a major requirement was to create a shock-absorbing handle to combat the stresses transferred to the clinicians’ hands when clipping a nail. Surveys carried out in NHS Podiatry Departments found that clinicians using the Susol nipper were less likely to develop Repetitive Strain Injury in the hand and wrist.
The handles also help reduce the weight of the nipper. On average the Susol nipper is 35% lighter than other single use nippers available on the UK Podiatry market.
The distance between the handles has also been calculated so most practitioners do not make a fist when using the Susol nipper. When gripping a nipper, if the clinician repeatedly touches the thenar eminence of the hand with their fingertips, they are more likely to develop problems in the wrist and arm. This is a phenomenon known to those who play any racquet sports, or where a bat is used. Players ‘wrap’ the handle so the grip is improved and, a ‘fist’ is not made. The same theory is applied to the Susol nail nipper.
Finally, the springs that open the nipper, ready for the next clip, are contained within the box joint. The traditional leaf spring has been moved from the handle to the joint. This avoids damage to gloves and, reduces the amount of steel used in the nipper manufacture.