Patent ID: 11957329
Assignee: SIMPLE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS, LLC
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 17:
18. A method of retracting tissue, the method comprising:
positioning a C-shaped first arm of a retractor assembly against a first portion of a tissue, wherein the C-shaped first arm comprises a plurality of plates extending in parallel along a length of the C-shaped first arm;
positioning a C-shaped second arm of the retractor assembly against a second portion of the tissue, wherein the C-shaped second arm comprises a plurality of plates extending in parallel along a length of the C-shaped second arm;
ratcheting the C-shaped first arm relative to the C-shaped second arm by pivoting the C-shaped first arm relative to the C-shaped second arm in a plane that is parallel to the plates forming the C-shaped first arm and engaging a ratcheting lock between the C-shaped first arm and the C-shaped second arm to prevent reduction of an angle between the C-shaped first arm and the C-shaped second arm until a release is activated, while allowing the angle to be increased; and
releasing the ratcheting lock by releasing a first quick release plate disposed along the C-shaped first arm and a second quick release plate disposed along the C-shaped second arm, wherein releasing the first quick release plate comprises sliding the first quick release plate between the plates forming the C-shaped first arm.