Patent ID: 7338442

Claim:
A universal clamping joint comprising: a first clamping member having a clamping bore; a non-cylindrical retractor blade handle, the non-cylindrical retractor blade handle having a plurality of serrations; an adapter housing having a retractor handle passageway and a sleeve, at least a portion of the sleeve being configured for rotational insertion into the clamping bore, at least a portion of the retractor handle passageway having a non-cylindrical configuration sized to receive the slideable insertion of the non-cylindrical retractor blade handle and to prevent the rotation of the non-cylindrical retractor blade handle within the adapter housing; a pinion operably connected to the adaptor housing, the pinion having a plurality of pinion teeth, the pinion teeth being configured for engagement with at least one of the plurality of serrations; a locking mechanism operably connected to the first clamping member, the locking mechanism being movable between an unclamped position and a clamped position, the clamped position being capable of imposing a clamping force on the clamping bore to prevent the rotation of the adaptor housing within the clamping bore; and a pawl mechanism operably connected to the adaptor housing, the pawl mechanism being configured for both a releasable engagement and a locking engagement with at least one of the plurality of serrations.