SURGICAL RETRACTOR BLADE AND HANDLE FOR MOVEMENT WITH TWO DEGREES OF FREEDOM

摘要

A surgical retractor blade is attached to a ratchet handle with a ball and socket joint to move with more than one degree of freedom. The surgical retractor blade can be removably attached to the handle through either a slot on the handle or a clamping mechanism attached to the handle by the ball and socket joint. In the case of the slot, the surgical retractor blade has a shaft with a first diameter narrower than the slot and a second diameter wider than the slot. The blade is turned one way for attachment and removal and another way to secure it to the handle for use.