Patent ID: 8197405

Claim:
A surgical retractor assembly, comprising: a bone plate having a tapered end portion; and a retractor including: a base having (i) a body defining a bottom surface and a distal portion, said distal portion defining a distal surface, (iii) a first pair of tabs extending from said body that are spaced apart from each other, and (iv) a second pair of tabs extending from said body that are spaced apart from each other, and a handle attached to said base, wherein said first pair of tabs and said bottom surface define a first plate space, wherein said second pair of tabs and said distal surface define a second plate space, wherein said retractor is positionable in relation to said bone plate between a first position and a second position, wherein, when said retractor is positioned in said first position, (i) said bone plate is positioned in said first plate space, and (ii) said bone plate is located outside of said second plate space, wherein, when said retractor is positioned in said second position, (i) said bone plate is positioned in said second plate space, and (ii) said bone plate is located outside of said first plate space, wherein: said first pair of tabs includes a first tab and a second tab, at least a portion of said first tab extends downwardly in relation to said bottom surface of said body of said base of said retractor, and at least a portion of said second tab extends downwardly in relation to said bottom surface of said body of said base of said retractor, and wherein: said first tab includes a first L-shaped member that has (i) a first connecting portion extending from a first lateral side surface of said body of said base of said retractor, and (ii) a first guide portion attached to said first connecting portion, and said second tab includes a second L-shaped member that has (i) a second connecting portion extending from a second lateral side surface of said body of said base of said retractor, and (ii) a second guide portion attached to said second connecting portion.