Surgical retractor

Abstract

A surgical retractor is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a surgical retractor includes a body extending from a proximal end to a distal end and having a first portion coupled to a second portion via a hinged connection, wherein the first and second portions are configured to rotate about a body axis; a first radiolucent tip coupled to a distal portion of the first portion; a second radiolucent tip coupled to a distal portion of the second portion; a holder coupled to one of the first or second portions; and a deformable member extending through the holder, wherein the deformable member is configured to be deformed to facilitate fixation of the surgical retractor at a desired location.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical retractor, comprising:
 a body extending from a proximal end to a distal end and having a first portion coupled to a second portion via a pivotal connection, wherein the first and second portions are configured to rotate about a body axis;   a first tip extending distally from the first portion;   a second tip extending distally from the second portion;   a holder coupled to one of the first or second portions; and   a deformable member held by the holder and having a first free end and a second free end opposite the first free end, the deformable member configured to be deformed around human tissue to facilitate fixation of the body at a desired location.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical retractor of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first tip includes a plurality of tines extending from a distal portion of the first tip;   the second tip includes a plurality of tines extending from a distal portion of the second tip, wherein the tines of the first tip are adjacent to the tines of the second tip when the surgical retractor is in a first position, and the tines of the first tip are spaced from the tines of the second tip to engage a surgical incision when the surgical retractor is in a second position.   
     
     
         3 . The surgical retractor of  claim 2 , wherein a portion of the body disposed proximate of the holder includes a ratchet pawl assembly configured to prevent movement of the surgical retractor towards the first position once the surgical retractor has been forced into the second position. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical retractor of  claim 1 , wherein the holder is rotatably coupled to the body such that the holder is free to rotate about the body axis. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical retractor of  claim 1 , wherein the holder is rotatably coupled to the body and includes a channel for receiving the deformable member. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical retractor of  claim 5 , wherein the holder includes a threaded hole extending laterally to the channel and adapted to receive the set screw. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical retractor of  claim 1 , wherein the holder is adapted to removably hold the deformable member. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical retractor of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second tips are formed of aluminum and the body is formed of stainless steel. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical retractor of  claim 1 , wherein the distal portion of the first portion of the body includes a first hole and the distal portion of the second portion of the body includes a second hole, wherein the first tip includes a third hole and the second radiolucent tip includes a fourth hole, and wherein the surgical retractor further comprises:
 a first pin extending through the first and third holes to couple the first tip to the first portion of the body; and   a second pin extending through the second and fourth holes to couple the second tip to the second portion of the body.   
     
     
         10 . The surgical retractor of  claim 1 , wherein the first tip and the second tip are radiolucent. 
     
     
         11 . A method for retracting tissue comprising:
 providing a surgical retractor, the surgical retractor including:
 a body extending from a proximal end to a distal end and having a first portion coupled to a second portion via a pivotal connection, wherein the first and second portions are configured to rotate about a body axis; 
 a first tip extending distally from the first portion; 
 a second tip extending distally from the second portion; 
 a holder coupled to one of the first or second portions; and 
 a deformable member held by the holder and having a first free end and a second free end opposite the first free end, the deformable member configured to be deformed around human tissue to facilitate fixation of the body at a desired location, 
   positioning the surgical retractor into a patient.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first tip includes a plurality of tines extending from a distal portion of the first tip;   the second tip includes a plurality of tines extending from a distal portion of the second tip, wherein the tines of the first tip are adjacent to the tines of the second tip when the surgical retractor is in a first position, and the tines of the first tip are spaced from the tines of the second tip to engage a surgical incision when the surgical retractor is in a second position.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a portion of the body disposed proximate of the holder includes a ratchet pawl assembly configured to prevent movement of the surgical retractor towards the first position once the surgical retractor has been forced into the second position. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the holder is rotatably coupled to the body such that the holder is free to rotate about the body axis. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the holder is rotatably coupled to the body and includes a channel for receiving the deformable member. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the holder includes a threaded hole extending laterally to the channel and adapted to receive the set screw. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the holder is adapted to removably hold the deformable member. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second tips are formed of aluminum and the body is formed of stainless steel. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the distal portion of the first portion of the body includes a first hole and the distal portion of the second portion of the body includes a second hole, wherein the first tip includes a third hole and the second radiolucent tip includes a fourth hole, and wherein the surgical retractor further comprises:
 a first pin extending through the first and third holes to couple the first tip to the first portion of the body; and   a second pin extending through the second and fourth holes to couple the second tip to the second portion of the body.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first tip and the second tip are radiolucent.