Patent ID: 8517935

Claim:
A retractor comprising: a first blade assembly including a first blade, a second blade assembly including a second blade, and a third blade assembly including a third blade, the first blade assembly connected by a first rack to the third blade assembly, the first blade assembly being movable along the first rack relative to the third blade assembly, the first blade assembly defining a first housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side surface connecting the top surface and the bottom surface, the first housing having a first opening, at least a portion of a proximal end of the first blade positioned inside the first housing between the top surface, bottom surface, and side surface and extending through the first opening in the first housing and a distal end of the first blade being positioned outside of the first housing, the first blade being rotatably coupled to the first housing and having a rotation axis that intersects the proximal end of the first blade and intersects the housing, the second blade assembly connected by a second rack to the third blade assembly, the second blade assembly being movable along the second rack relative to the third blade assembly, the first blade assembly and the second blade assembly being adjustable between a closed configuration in which the first blade, the second blade, and the third blade contact one another along at least a portion of their lengths and an open position in which first blade, the second blade, and the third blade are spaced apart from one another, the first blade being rotatable independent of the second blade and the third blade, the second blade being rotatable independent of the first blade and the third blade, and the first blade assembly including a screw received within a hole provided in the first blade assembly, movement of the screw along a screw axis within the first housing relative to the first blade assembly adjusts the rotational orientation of the first blade.