Weighted surgical retractor systems

Abstract

This document provides surgical retractor devices and systems. For example, this document provides a weighted surgical retractor system. In one example embodiment, this document provides a weighted Deaver retractor system that includes a selectable amount of weight that can be releasably coupled to a shaft of the retractor. The surgical retractors provided herein can be used during a variety of surgical procedures, including surgical procedures performed on the abdomen, thoracic regions, limbs, and so on. In some embodiments, the surgical retractors provided herein are well-suited for retraction of the vaginal canal for hysterectomy surgery, and for other procedures for which vaginal retraction is necessary.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical retractor system comprising:
 a retractor shaft member, the retractor shaft member including a distal working end and a proximal weighted end; and   one or more weight members that are configured to be releasably coupled to the retractor shaft member at the proximal weighted end.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical retractor system of  claim 1 , wherein the distal working end includes a roughened surface that is configured to have a higher coefficient of friction between the roughened surface and tissue of a patient than are other surfaces of the retractor shaft member. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical retractor system of  claim 1 , wherein the distal working end includes a portion that is concaved. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical retractor system of  claim 3 , wherein the concaved portion includes a roughened surface that is configured to have a higher coefficient of friction between the roughened surface and tissue of a patient than are other surfaces of the retractor shaft member. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical retractor system of  claim 1 , wherein the distal working end includes a kidney-shaped portion. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical retractor system of  claim 5 , wherein the kidney-shaped portion includes a roughened surface that is configured to have a higher coefficient of friction between the roughened surface and tissue of a patient than are other surfaces of the retractor shaft member. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical retractor system of  claim 1 , further comprising a base weight member that is fixed to the retractor shaft member. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical retractor system of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more weight members are configured to releasably couple to the base weight member. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical retractor system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more weight members comprise at least two separate weight members. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical retractor system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least two separate weight members are configured to releasably couple to each other. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical retractor system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more weight members comprise at least three separate weight members. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical retractor system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least three separate weight members are configured to releasably couple to each other. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical retractor system of  claim 1 , wherein the distal working end of the retractor shaft member is releasably coupleable with a distal end portion of the retractor shaft member. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical retractor system of  claim 13 , wherein the distal working end includes at least three retractor arms. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical retractor system of  claim 14 , wherein two of the at least three retractor arms are configured to deliver lateral retraction. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical retractor system of  claim 13 , wherein a portion of the distal end portion of the retractor shaft member has scalloped lateral sides. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical retractor system of  claim 1 , further comprising a light source that is coupleable to the retractor shaft member.