Surgical retraction apparatus

摘要

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for pivoting a surgical retractor with respect to a patient it is being used on. The apparatus has a bridge for engaging at least one arm of a surgical retractor. The bridge has a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The bridge further includes a distal coupling attached to the distal end of the bridge for releasably attaching the bridge to the surgical retractor. The apparatus also has a lifting assembly comprising an elevator. The lifting assembly is for applying an upward force to the proximal end of the bridge, so that when the apparatus is attached to a surgical retractor the lifting assembly pivots the retractor upward about the distal coupling. The elevator includes a bridge coupling for attaching the lifting assembly to the proximal end of the bridge. The bridge coupling has a rotatable connection for allowing the bridge to rotate about its longitudinal axis.