A sterile substance intended to be applied to a sterile surgical instrument prior to use for device mechanical and patient lubrication purposes (e.g., to facilitate moving parts of device, and to facilitate movement between instrument and patient); it is not dedicated to a specific type of surgical instrument. It includes plant-derived materials (e.g., glycerin) and may also be intended for non-surgical applications (e.g., entry of a device into a body orifice). After application, this device cannot be reused.