Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a low profile support member for a surgical retraction apparatus which includes a support member in which a lower portion of the support member has a rectilinear portion for insertion into an anchoring receptacle; an upper portion of the support member has a first horizontal extension; a splined coupling adaptor connects together the lower and upper portions, in which the splined coupling adaptor includes a splined segment having a key-like splined portion and a lock-like splined portion; and an extender portion having both a vertical extension and a second horizontal extension. The extender portion is mountable on the first horizontal extension. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of providing surgical retraction to a patient positioned relative to a support platform, including steps of mounting upper and lower portions of a support member with respect to each other by a lock-and-key-like splined connection and with respect to the platform, in which the upper portion includes a first horizontal extension; mounting on the first horizontal extension an extender portion which has both a vertical extension and a second horizontal extension; positioning a lifting device above the patient by mounting the lifting device with respect to the second horizontal extension; and applying retraction to the patient.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim