Patent ID: 9579095
Date: 2017-02-28
CPC Classifications: A61B

Claim:
1. A retractor for enlarging an incision, the retractor comprising: a frame extending about a central opening of the frame; a plurality of tissue engaging members for being inserted into an incision; a plurality of operating mechanisms for connecting the tissue engaging members to the frame and being operable to move the tissue engaging members apart to enlarge the incision; a slider of one of the operating mechanisms for being connected to one of the tissue engaging members, the slider being slidably connected to the frame and shiftable between extended and retracted positions; a ratchet mechanism including an actuator having a projection, the ratchet mechanism further including a plurality of recesses with the projection configured to be received in one of the recesses, the projection and recesses being further configured to permit the slider to be shifted toward the retracted position and resist shifting of the slider toward the extended position and the actuator being operable to withdraw the projection from the recess in which the projection is received to allow the slider to be shifted toward the retracted and the extended positions thereof; and an actuator lock having a locked position that keeps the actuator from being operated to withdraw the projection from the recess in which the projection is received and an unlocked position that allows for operation of the actuator.