Patent ID: 7455639

Claim:
A retractor comprising: a first handle arm connected to a first blade arm, and a second handle arm connected to a second blade arm; a central hinge interconnecting said first blade arm to said second blade arm; a first blade receptacle interconnected to said first blade arm at a first blade attachment point, wherein said first blade receptacle pivots relative to said first blade arm, and wherein said first blade receptacle is adapted to receive a first blade; a second blade receptacle interconnected to said second blade arm at a second blade attachment point, wherein said second blade receptacle pivots relative to said second blade arm, and wherein said second blade receptacle is adapted to receive a second blade; a central arm interconnected to said central hinge, said central arm substantially aligned along a longitudinal axis of the retractor; a first rotatable member interconnected to said first blade receptacle at a first rotatable member attachment point and to said central arm at a junction, said junction and said hinge being disposed at different points along said central arm; and a second rotatable member interconnected to said second blade receptacle at a second rotatable member attachment point and to said central arm at said junction; wherein said first and said second rotatable members maintain the first and second blades substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the retractor during opening and closing the first and second blades.