Open any cannula catalogue and the tip names can look like a code: 2x3, 270°, Mercedes Plus, basket, Tri-port. Once you know the two pieces of information most names carry, the code is easy to read, and it becomes much quicker to compare one tip with another. This guide explains the naming, the extraction angle and the main tip families for surgeons and the people who order for them.
How to read a tip name
Most tip names include a pattern written as AxB. The first number is the number of rows of vents; the second is the number of holes in each row. A 1x3 tip has one row of three vents. A 2x3 tip has two rows of three. A 3x1 linear tip has three rows with one vent each, lined up along the shaft.
The second piece of information is the extraction angle: how much of the cannula's circumference the vents face.
- 90° – all vents face one direction. Aspiration is directional, which gives more control over where tissue is drawn in.
- 270° – vents are spread radially around most of the circumference, with one side left closed.
- 360° – vents face all the way around, so the tip aspirates from every side.
As a general principle, more vents, larger vents and a wider extraction angle make a tip more aggressive. Fewer vents facing one way make it more controlled.
The main tip families at a glance
| Family | Vent pattern | Extraction | Typically chosen for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single, double, triple linear | 1x1, 2x1, 3x1 in a line | 90° | Directional work near the surface, finishing and sculpting |
| Tri-port | 1x3 radial | 270° | General aspiration with one side closed |
| Tri-port Plus | 2x3 radial | 270° | Larger-volume aspiration with one side closed |
| Mercedes | 1x3 radial | 360° | Bulk removal, aspirating all around the tip |
| Mercedes Plus | 2x3 radial | 360° | More aggressive bulk removal |
| Basket (H. Becker) | 1x3 or 2x3 radial, basket tip | 360° | Fibrous areas, where tissue needs breaking up |
| RK and Del Vecchio 4x3 | 4x3 radial | 270° | Bulk removal with many vents and one side closed |
| A. Saad HD | Radial vents | 270° | Radial aspiration with one side closed |
| Rasping and dissector (Toledo, Coleman V) | 1x1 to 3x1 linear, shaped tip | 90° | Directional work where the tip shape matters as much as the vents |
| Diamond Suite (Jack, Queen and King of Diamonds) | Diamond-shaped ports, spatula-style tip | See product pages | Surgeons who prefer a diamond-cut vent profile, including laser-assisted work |
| Fat-grafting harvesters | Many small radial holes (3x3 up to 6x4) | 360° | Harvesting fat for grafting |
The table is a map, not a prescription. Tip choice depends on the area, the tissue, the technique and the surgeon's own preference, and the surgeon decides.
Linear vents: single, double and triple
Linear tips put all their vents on one side, at 90°. A single 1x1 vent is the most controlled; double 2x1 and triple 3x1 add vents along the same line. These tips are often chosen near the surface or for finishing, where the surgeon wants to know exactly which way the cannula is drawing. Variants include spatulated wedge tips such as the double-wedge "Finesse", flap-vent tips and the 4x1 Gilliland etching cannula.
Tri-port vs Mercedes
This is one of the most common comparisons, and the difference is simple. Both the Tri-port Accelerator III and the Mercedes use a 1x3 radial pattern. The Tri-port faces its vents over 270°, leaving one side closed, while the Mercedes aspirates over the full 360°.
The "Plus" versions add a second row. The Tri-port Plus 2x3 keeps the 270° layout; Mercedes Plus 2x3 keeps 360°. Mercedes Triple goes to 3x3. Moving from 1x3 to 2x3 to 3x3, or from 270° to 360°, makes the tip progressively more aggressive. The choice between them comes down to how much of the circumference the surgeon wants working at once.
Basket cannulas
Basket tips are built to break up fibrous tissue, which is why they are commonly used in fibrous areas. The H. Becker basket 1x3 is the classic example, with 360° extraction. There is also a 2x3 H. Becker basket (SST) and a basket version of the Tri-port Plus, both at 360°.
RK, Del Vecchio and A. Saad HD
The RK 4x3 and Del Vecchio 4x3 put four rows of three radial vents on a 270° layout, twelve vents in all, which puts them towards the aggressive end of the range. An RK Aggressive version is also available. The A. Saad HD tip is another 270° radial design; its exact vent layout is shown on the product page.
Rasping and dissector tips
Rasping tips (2x1 and 3x1 linear, 90°) and dissector tips work with the tip shape as well as the vents. The Toledo dissectors come with a V-notch or W-notch, and the Coleman V dissector has an atraumatic profile. Blunt or spatulated tips and sharper tips pass through tissue differently, so these are usually chosen deliberately rather than as a default.
The Diamond Suite
The Diamond Suite uses diamond-shaped ports with a spatula-style tip, in three tiers named for the court cards:
- Jack of Diamonds (Practitioner): standard suction-assisted liposuction and high-definition contouring, with equal-size diamond ports in a spiral.
- Queen of Diamonds (Initiate): laser-assisted liposuction, with a 2x2 diamond layout so you can lase and aspirate in one pass. The place to start with LAL.
- King of Diamonds (Virtuoso): laser-assisted liposuction for experienced providers, with extra diamond ports in a spiral for faster fat removal.
The Jack of Diamonds is also sold individually; every tier is available as a set.
Fat-grafting harvesters
Harvesting cannulas take the opposite approach to bulk-removal tips: many small radial holes around 360°. Patterns run from the Coleman 3x3 and Trivisonno nano 3x4, through Sorensen 4x3 and the Tonnard and Sforza 5x4 tips, up to the Sattler 6x4. You'll find them alongside the aspiration tips in the aspiration and harvesting collection.
Putting it together
Because every CLINIMED cannula is a two-part system, a tip choice isn't locked to one handle. The Mix & Match configurator lets you pick the tip, diameter and hub separately, so you can build the combination your surgeons ask for. Every tip, whatever the family, goes through the same five steps: CNC laser cutting, hand buffing, electropolishing inside and out, ultrasonic cleaning and borescope inspection.
Frequently asked questions
What does 2x3 mean on a liposuction cannula?
It describes the vent pattern: two rows with three vents in each row. The first number is rows, the second is holes per row.
What is the difference between a Mercedes and a Tri-port cannula?
Both use a 1x3 radial vent pattern. The Mercedes aspirates over 360°, while the Tri-port faces its vents over 270° and leaves one side closed.
What is a basket cannula used for in liposuction?
A basket tip is designed to break up fibrous tissue, so it is commonly used in fibrous areas. The H. Becker basket is the best-known example.
What does 90°, 270° or 360° extraction mean?
It is how much of the cannula's circumference the vents face. 90° vents all face one way for directional control; 270° and 360° patterns aspirate around more of the tip.
Which cannula tips are used for fat grafting?
Harvesting cannulas with many small radial holes around 360°, such as the Coleman 3x3, Tonnard 5x4 or Sattler 6x4 patterns, are typically used to harvest fat for grafting.