A surgical retractor for use in certain types of deep abdominal surgery wherein it is necessary to remove the intestines from the abdominal cavity, includes an extension releasably secured to a frame and having a retractor arm carried by the extension in an elevated position relative to the frame, to thereby provide space for the intestines draped over the frame, and a retractor blade carried by the arm and engaged with the intestines to retain them out of the abdominal cavity.
A surgical retractor according to the invention comprises a straight shaft, a blade and means for pivotally connecting the blade to the shaft with the blade oriented perpendicularly to the shaft and being free to turn about an axis perpendicular to the shaft. The retractor may further comprise means for telescopically adjusting the length of the shaft and releasably fixing the shaft at the adjusted length. A sole may be formed on the free extremity of the blade most remote from the pivotal connection, the sole being symmetrically formed on the blade and defining surfaces in planes perpendicular to the turning axis of the blade, the surfaces extending equally beyond the thickness of the blade in opposite directions.
During back surgery, a surgeon can, with one hand, apply traction against tissue in a surgical wound by using a retraction device that includes an upstanding post and a surgical retractor, the handle of which is formed with ratchet teeth for securing the retractor to the post against elastic recoil of the retracted tissue. The post preferably is integral with a slip-lock which can be slidably mounted on a rectangular rail of a framework that extends above the patient. The slip-lock includes a floating jaw that is loosely pinned to a slide and becomes releasably locked to the rail when the elastic recoil of retracted tissue pulls on the post. Because the retraction device holds the tissue precisely in the position to which it is set by the surgeon, the hazards involved in using assistants to hold retractors are avoided.
A surgical retractor includes an annular support ring and a unitary retractor arm movably attached thereto by a clamp. The clamp includes a captive nut and a stop on the arm prevents the clamp from becoming separated from the arm.
A surgical retractor assembly includes a support post having a lower portion and an upper portion, with the lower portion having an adjustable clamp for attaching the post to a rail provided on a surgical operating table. This clamp is capable of attachment to the rail over a flexible surgical drape. A screw mechanism is associated with the clamp so that the clamp can be attached and adjusted by the operator in an area above the rail on the surgical table. An extension rod is adjustably connected to the post and is adapted to extend in a direction generally over a patient on the operating table. A rigid ring member is connected to the extension rod for positioning a plurality of retractor blades for use on a patient. At least one retractor blade is mounted on the ring member.
A retractor for operating on hernias comprising a frame member and several gripping, hook and elongated gripping instruments that are removably mounted to the frame. Each instrument includes a mounting assembly that permits the rigid locking of the elongated portion of the instrument in place with respect to the mounting assembly so that the tissue or body part being pulled is maintained out of the area being operated on. The mounting assemblies are removably and pivotally mounted to one of several openings positions around the periphery of the frame assembly so that the instruments can be directed in any suitable angle.
