Patent ID: 8602984

Claim:
A surgical retractor, comprising: a first base component having a first blade coupled thereto and a first connector arm extending therefrom; a second base component having a second blade coupled thereto and a second connector arm extending therefrom, the second base component being coupled to the first connector arm for translating motion with respect to the first base component; and a third base component having a third blade coupled thereto extending therefrom, the third base component being coupled to the second connector arm for translating motion with respect to the first base component; the first, second, and third base components being configured to define a major plane and to define an access portal through the major plane through which surgery can be performed wherein at least one of the first and second connector arms curves out of the major plane such that movement of two base components away from each other along one of the curved connector arms results in an increased distance between a distal end of the blades coupled to those base components as compared to a proximal end of the blades wherein the distal end is the end located furthest from the respective base component.