diff --git a/code/__HELPERS/trait_helpers.dm b/code/__HELPERS/trait_helpers.dm
index 7ca2893038cc..65f691e66538 100644
--- a/code/__HELPERS/trait_helpers.dm
+++ b/code/__HELPERS/trait_helpers.dm
@@ -275,6 +275,9 @@ Remember to update _globalvars/traits.dm if you're adding/removing/renaming trai
 /// An advanced surgical tool. If a surgical tool has this flag, it will be able to automatically repeat steps until they succeed.
 #define TRAIT_ADVANCED_SURGICAL	"advanced_surgical"
 
+/// A surgical tool; If a surgical tool has this flag it can be used as an alternative to an open hand in surgery
+#define TRAIT_SURGICAL_OPEN_HAND "surgical_hand_alternative"
+
 /// Prevent mobs on the turf from being affected by anything below that turf, such as a pulse demon going under it. Added by a /obj/structure with creates_cover set to TRUE
 #define TRAIT_TURF_COVERED "turf_covered"
 
diff --git a/code/game/objects/items/robot/cyborg_gripper.dm b/code/game/objects/items/robot/cyborg_gripper.dm
index fc8a1b15ebd7..cc392479255d 100644
--- a/code/game/objects/items/robot/cyborg_gripper.dm
+++ b/code/game/objects/items/robot/cyborg_gripper.dm
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@
 			I.forceMove(src)
 			gripped_item = I
 			return
-		
+
 		to_chat(user, "<span class='warning'>You hold your gripper over [target], but no matter how hard you try, you cannot make yourself grab it.</span>")
 		return
 
@@ -181,6 +181,10 @@
 	can_help_up = TRUE
 	can_hold_all_items = TRUE
 
+/obj/item/gripper/universal/Initialize(mapload)
+	. = ..()
+	ADD_TRAIT(src,TRAIT_SURGICAL_OPEN_HAND, ROUNDSTART_TRAIT)
+
 ////////////////////////////////
 // MARK:	MEDICAL GRIPPER
 ////////////////////////////////
@@ -194,6 +198,10 @@
 	// REMOVE actions_types from here if you add a can_hold list for this gripper!
 	actions_types = list()
 
+/obj/item/gripper/medical/Initialize(mapload)
+	. = ..()
+	ADD_TRAIT(src,TRAIT_SURGICAL_OPEN_HAND, ROUNDSTART_TRAIT)
+
 ////////////////////////////////
 // MARK:	SERVICE GRIPPER
 ////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/code/modules/surgery/abstract_steps.dm b/code/modules/surgery/abstract_steps.dm
index 4465f07ca1bb..2632347347c0 100644
--- a/code/modules/surgery/abstract_steps.dm
+++ b/code/modules/surgery/abstract_steps.dm
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@
 	for(var/datum/surgery/S in branches_init)
 		first_step = S.get_surgery_step()
 
-		if(!tool && first_step.accept_hand)
+		if((!tool || HAS_TRAIT(tool, TRAIT_SURGICAL_OPEN_HAND)) && first_step.accept_hand)
 			if(SURGERY_TOOL_HAND in starting_tools)
 				CRASH("[src] was provided with multiple branches that allow an empty hand.")
 			next_surgery = S  // if there's no tool, just proceed forward.
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@
 		if((SURGERY_TOOL_ANY in starting_tools) && next_surgery_step.accept_any_item)
 			CRASH("[src] has a conflict with the next main step [next_surgery_step] in surgery [surgery]: both accept any item.")
 
-		if(!tool && next_surgery_step.accept_hand && !(SURGERY_TOOL_HAND in starting_tools))
+		if((!tool || HAS_TRAIT(tool, TRAIT_SURGICAL_OPEN_HAND)) && next_surgery_step.accept_hand && !(SURGERY_TOOL_HAND in starting_tools))
 			next_surgery = surgery
 
 		for(var/allowed in next_surgery_step.allowed_tools)
diff --git a/code/modules/surgery/surgery.dm b/code/modules/surgery/surgery.dm
index 35ae69f16ee4..3184d963abb3 100644
--- a/code/modules/surgery/surgery.dm
+++ b/code/modules/surgery/surgery.dm
@@ -217,9 +217,7 @@
 
 	var/success = FALSE
 	if(accept_hand)
-		if(!tool)
-			success = TRUE
-		if(isrobot(user) && istype(tool, /obj/item/gripper/medical))
+		if(!tool || HAS_TRAIT(tool, TRAIT_SURGICAL_OPEN_HAND))
 			success = TRUE
 
 	if(accept_any_item)