Patent ID: 6958038

Claim:
A multipositional ratchet device for use with a surgical retractor comprising: a) a housing adapted to accommodate a portion of a retractor blade stem, said housing having a front end and rear end and two opposing sides, a movable portion movably coupled to a support portion; b) tilt adjustment mechanism mechanically coupled to said housing and adapted to control the vertical tilt position of said movable portion of housing relative to said support portion of said housing; c) longitudinal adjustment mechanism mechanically coupled to said housing and adapted to control the longitudinal axial positioning of said retractor blade stem relative to said housing; wherein said tilt adjustment mechanism comprises a tilt adjustment tab and said longitudinal adjustment mechanism comprises a longitudinal adjustment tab, said adjustment tabs permitting both independent and simultaneous tilt and longitudinal adjustments respectively, said mechanisms being mechanically independent of one another, using continuously maintained finger contact thereon by a single hand throughout said adjustment; and wherein said tilt adjustment tab and longitudinal adjustment tab are located on the same side of said housing with the finger pads of said adjustment tabs adjacent one another to permit both adjustments to be operated with the index finger and third finger of the same hand.