METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RETRACTING TISSUE

摘要

A surgical retractor includes a retractor blade and a gripping element releasably coupled to the retractor blade. The gripping element has a textured surface for engaging and gripping tissue. The gripping element may be released from the retractor blade intraoperatively. The surgical retractor may also have an optical illumination element such as an optical waveguide that is magnetically and releasably coupled to the retractor.