Patent ID: 9655608
Date: 2017-05-23
CPC Classifications: A61B,B25B,Y10T

Claim:
1. A method of assembling a retractor suitable for moving or retaining body tissue in a desired location, comprising: connecting a frame rail to a supporting frame arm with a frame arm clamp, the frame rail having a cross section defining upper and lower widened sections, the upper widened sections having opposing surfaces, one of which defines at least a portion of an upper surface of the frame rail, the upper surface of the frame rail facing away from a patient, and the lower widened section having opposing surfaces, one of which defines at least a portion of a lower surface of the frame rail, the lower surface of the frame rail facing the patient, said upper and lower widened sections separated relative to each other by a narrowed portion, the frame arm clamp having opposed clamping surfaces each shaped to conformingly engage said opposing surfaces of said upper widened section, the frame arm clamp further including a connector connecting said opposed clamping surfaces and configured to move said clamping surfaces into conforming contact with said opposing surfaces; and attaching at least one device clamp to the frame rail, the at least one device clamp having opposed clamping surfaces each shaped to conformingly engage said opposing surfaces of said lower widened section, said device clamp further including a connector connecting said opposed clamping surfaces and configured to move said clamping surfaces into conforming contact with said opposing surfaces, said at least one device clamp slideable along said lower widened section when said at least one device clamp is conformingly engaged with said lower widened section and movable past said frame arm clamp when said frame arm clamp is conformingly engaged with said first widened section.