| abstract |
Disclosed is a self-retaining surgical retractor suitable for use in small surgical incisions or punctures, able to expand the incision or puncture to one or more enlarged cross-sectional areas and designed to protect the edges of the incision or puncture. The surgical retractor comprises a radially expandable tubular body having a control at the proximal end. Pull wires couple the control to the tubular body such that force applied to the control is transmitted to the tubular body as axially compressive force. |