The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 27, 1994
Filed:
Nov. 12, 1993
Rene J Cabrera, Stoughton, MA (US);
Francisco A Amaral, New Bedford, MA (US);
John J Amaral, South Dartmouth, MA (US);
John R Bookwalter, Brattleboro, VT (US);
Codman & Shurtleff, Inc., Randolph, MA (US);
Abstract
A multi-position ratchet mechanism for holding a surgical retractor blade which permits a retractor blade to be rotated into the wound and retracted at the same time to duplicate the natural 'toe-in' method of retraction achieved with the hand. The ratchet mechanism includes a ratchet holder to which is pivotally attached a ratchet pivot housing. The retractor blade is mounted in an opening projecting through ratchet pivot housing and held in position by a retractor pawl attached to the ratchet pivot housing. The ratchet pivot housing also has a curved ratchet which depends into a cooperating slot in the ratchet holder and engages a ratchet release bar which is mounted on the ratchet holder and spring biased into the ratchet slot. One end of ratchet release bar is positioned under an actuating surface of the retractor pawl. The application of pressure on the actuating surface will release both ratchets to allow adjustment of the retractor blade.