Surgical Technology: Retracting Instruments

Hand-Held Retractors – Single-Sided

Richardson (Rich) Retractor

  • Single-Sided
  • Multiple Sizes: Small, Medium, Large
  • Deeper Blades Can Be Called a “Dodd Retractor”

Deaver Retractor

  • Single-Sided
  • Large Curved End

Harrington (Sweet-Heart) Retractor

  • Single-Sided
  • Large Curved End
  • End in the Shape of a Heart

Vein Retractor

  • Single-Sided
  • Small Curved End

Malleable (Ribbon) Retractor

  • Aluminum Steel Retractor
  • Malleable & Able to Be Bent as Needed
  • Multiple Widths Available
  • Often Used for Retraction & for Facia Closure to Protect Underlying Bowel

Richardson

Deaver

Harrington

Vein Retractor

Malleable

Hand-Held Retractors – Double-Sided

Army-Navy Retractor

  • Double-Sided
  • One Short End (Army)
  • One Long End (Navy)

Goulet Retractor

  • Double-Sided
  • One Side Smaller than the Other

Parker (Bard-Parker) Retractor

  • Double-Sided
  • Same-Size Curved Ends

Roux Retractor

  • Double-Sided
  • One Side Smaller than the Other

S-Shaped Retractor

  • Double-Sided
  • “S”-Shaped
  • Smooth Blade

Army-Navy

Goulet

Parker

Roux

S-Retractor

Hand-Held Retractors – Hooked

Senn Retractor

  • Two-Sided Retractor
  • One End “L”-Shaped
  • One End Has Three Prongs
    • Prongs Can Be Sharp or Blunt

Rake Retractor

  • Single-Sided Retractor with Prongs
  • Prongs Can Be Sharp or Blunt
  • Number of Prongs Varies – 3 or 5

Israel Retractor

  • Modification of the Rake Retractor
  • Large Blunt Prongs
  • Number of Prongs Varies – 4 or 6

Skin Hook (Joseph) Retractor

  • Single-Sided Retractor
  • One or Two Small Sharp Prongs

Senn

Rake

Israel

Skin Hook

Self-Retaining Retractors

Weitlaner Retractor

  • Ratcheting with Shallow Blades
  • Each Side Has 2-6 Blades
  • Prongs Can Be Sharp or Blunt

Adson Cerebellar Retractor

  • Ratcheting with Shallow Blades
  • Arms are Angled Down

Henley Retractor

  • Modular System with Two Sides
  • Blades Available in Multiple Sizes & Depths (Able to Mix & Match)

Gelpi Retractor

  • Single Sharp Prong on Each Arm

Spring Retractor

  • Heads Spread by Spring Power
  • Available in Multiple Different Heads & Sizes

Balfour Abdominal Retractor

  • Three-Sided Retractor

Finochietto Rib Retractor (Rib Spreader)

  • Designed Specifically for Separating Ribs in Thoracic Surgery

Weitlaner

Cerebellar

Henley

Gelpi

Spring Retractor

Balfour

Finochietto

Fixed Self-Retaining Retractor Systems

Bookwalter Retractor System

  • Oval Base is Fixed to the Bed
  • Multiple Various Retractors are Fixed to the Oval Base

Omni-Tract Retractor System (Omni)

  • Two Flexible Arms Are Fixed to the Bed
  • Multiple Various Retractors are Fixed to the Arm Frame

Thompson-Farley Retractor System

  • Single Rod Fixed to the Bed
  • Can Fix More Arms to the Rod if Needed
  • Multiple Various Retractors are Fixed to the Frame
  • Commonly Used for Cervical Incisions
  • Can Use Two Arms for Bilateral Retraction

Bookwalter

Omni

Thompson Retractor