Surgical retractor

Abstract

The invention relates to a surgical retractor, particularly for the retraction of a separated sternum, with a holding device and two spreader arms, wherein the spreader arms are mounted with one end on the holding device, at a distance from each other that is adjustable in a spreading plane, and at least two retaining elements for retention of bone material, for example of the separated sternum, are arranged on each of the spreader arms. To develop this retractor for sternotomy in such a way as to permit gentler opening of the separated sternum, it is proposed that at least one of the retaining elements is mounted such that its position can be modified in the retraction direction with respect to that end of the spreader arm mounted on the holding device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Surgical retractor comprising:
 a holding device,   two spreader arms, the spreader arms each being held with one end on the holding device at a spacing from one another that is adjustable in a retraction direction in a spreading plane, and   at least two retaining elements arranged on each of the spreader arms,   wherein:   the spreader arms are each subdivided into two segments,   a first segment is held on the holding device in a substantially unchangeable orientation relative to the spreading plane, and   a second segment is held at a free end of the first segment so as to be pivotable in a plane perpendicular to the spreading plane.   
     
     
         2 . Surgical retractor according to  claim 1 , wherein a pivot angle of each of the second segments is restricted such that a pivot movement of each of the second segments is possible only in a direction out of the spreading plane. 
     
     
         3 . Surgical retractor according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the retaining elements is positionally adjustable in the retraction direction relative to an end of each of the spreader arms. 
     
     
         4 . Surgical retractor according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the two spreader arms are each subdivided into two sections, a first section of each of the spreader arms comprising the first segment and the second segment, and a second section of each of the spreader arms held on the first section rotatable about a pivot axis, the pivot axis extending perpendicular to the spreading plane.   
     
     
         5 . Surgical retractor according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the at least two retaining elements comprise two retaining elements arranged on each of the second sections, and   the two retaining elements are arranged on opposite sides of the pivot axis on each of the second sections.   
     
     
         6 . Surgical retractor according to  claim 4 , wherein the second section of each of the spreader arms is resiliently held in a starting position with a coaxial orientation relative to the first section. 
     
     
         7 . Surgical retractor according to  claim 4 , wherein the pivotability of the second section relative to the first section is limited by a stop. 
     
     
         8 . Surgical retractor according to  claim 4 , wherein the second section is lockable in a position pivoted relative to the first section. 
     
     
         9 . Surgical retractor according to  claim 4 , wherein the second section is pivotable relative to the first section by means of a drive. 
     
     
         10 . Surgical retractor according to  claim 9 , wherein the drive is configured to be self-locking. 
     
     
         11 . Surgical retractor according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the first section of each spreader arm, at an end thereof remote from the holding device, is configured to be angled in the spreading plane,   an angled region of the first section is oriented in a direction toward the other spreader arm, and   the pivot axis is arranged in the angled region of the first section.   
     
     
         12 . Surgical retractor according to  claim 4 , wherein the first section contains a flexibly elastic region and the second section is held on the flexibly elastic region of the first section. 
     
     
         13 . Surgical retractor according to  claim 4 , wherein the second section is configured flexibly elastically deformable in the spreading plane. 
     
     
         14 . Surgical retractor according to  claim 4 , wherein the retaining elements are adjustably mountable in different defined positions along the second sections. 
     
     
         15 . Surgical retractor according to  claim 4 , wherein the second sections are provided with a plurality of recesses which define locking positions for the retaining elements. 
     
     
         16 . Surgical retractor according to  claim 1 , wherein the first segments are configured to be substantially linear. 
     
     
         17 . Surgical retractor according to  claim 1 , wherein the retaining elements are arranged adjustably along a longitudinal direction of the spreader arms. 
     
     
         18 . Surgical retractor according to  claim 1 , wherein the retaining elements are arranged offset relative to one another in a longitudinal direction of the spreader arms. 
     
     
         19 . Surgical retractor according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least one of the retaining elements is configured in two parts,   a first part of the at least one retaining element forms a bearing part and is held on the spreader arm and a second part of the at least one retaining element forms a retaining surface, which is mounted to be movable on the first part.   
     
     
         20 . Surgical retractor according to  claim 19 , wherein the second part is held pivotable about an axis perpendicular to the spreading plane.