Swivel ring surgical retractor

Claim 1

In a generally circular hinged surgical retractor for retaining tissue in a retracted position in a surgical incision including a generally semi-circular fixed portion and a generally semi-circular swivel portion secured together to allow movement of said swivel portion relative to said fixed portion and an outwardly directed channel around the major portion of the circumference of each of said fixed and swivel portions to receive a retractor arm holder to which a retractor blade may be attached and support means on said fixed portion to hold the retractor in a position over an incision, the improvement comprising a first boss having an inwardly directed sunburst clamping insert located on said fixed portion, a second boss having an outwardly directed sunburst clamping insert located on the swivel portion, a threaded opening centrally located in said second boss insert, a rotatable handle affixed to a shaft extending through said first boss and said inwardly directed sunburst clamping insert to engage said outwardly directed sunburst clamping insert, and said threaded opening in said second boss and a screw thread on an inward portion of said shaft, and said shaft having an inward extremity having no threads, an outwardly directed swivel pin on the fixed portion which is aligned with the shaft, a smooth walled bore on the swivel portion to receive the swivel pin, the swivel portion being releasably secured to the fixed portion by said screw thread, said first and second bosses and said sunburst clamping inserts to allow movement of said swivel portion relative to said fixed portion and the separation of said swivel portion from said fixed portion.