Patent ID: 9521997
Filing Date: 2016-12-20
CPC Classification: A61B

Claim Text:
1. A retractor, comprising: a base having a track formed therein and a proximal-facing surface in which a plurality of recesses are formed; an actuator seated in the track such that the actuator is rotatable within the track relative to the base, the actuator including a thread formed on a distal-facing surface thereof; and a plurality of retractor blades, each of the retractor blades having a distal portion that extends from the base and is configured to contact and retract tissue and a proximal portion seated in one of the recesses of the base such that the proximal portion is sandwiched between the distal-facing surface of the actuator and the proximal-facing surface of the base, the proximal portion including a plurality of teeth configured to engage the thread of the actuator; wherein rotation of the actuator in a first direction relative to the base causes the thread of the actuator to engage the teeth of the retractor blades to push the retractor blades radially-outward, and wherein rotation of the actuator in a second, opposite direction relative to the base causes the thread of the actuator to engage the teeth of the retractor blades to pull the retractor blades radially-inward.