Patent ID: 7931591

Claim:
A surgical retractor especially adapted for retracting portions of a patient's body by use of one or more retractor blades, comprising: first and second arms having first and second grips, respectively, for engaging and being maintained in position relative to selected portions of the patient; a crossbar that connects the first and second arms, the first arm being rigidly connected to the crossbar and the second arm being movable along the crossbar toward or away from the first arm; each of the first and second arms having an upper surface; an elongate bar secured to the upper surface of a selected one of the first or second arms, the elongate bar being fixed in position relative to the arm, the elongate bar defining a longitudinal axis and having a flat surface along at least a portion of its length; a bracket extending upwardly from the upper surface of the selected arm and to which one or more retractor blades can be connected, the bracket having a groove on that side facing the upper surface, the groove having a size and shape such that it can engage the elongate bar and be retained there for axial movement along the longitudinal axis and rotational movement about the longitudinal axis; a first threaded opening in the bracket; and a first set screw threaded into the first threaded opening, the first set screw being engageable with the flat surface on the elongate bar in order to prevent axial movement of the bracket and any retractor blade connected thereto along the longitudinal axis and rotational movement of the bracket and any retractor blade connected thereto about the longitudinal axis, whereby the bracket and any retractor blade connected thereto can be located in a fixed, predetermined position relative to the patient.