Surgical retractor

Claim 1

A surgical retractor comprising, (a) a front end segment, (b) a rear end segment, (c) a plurality of intermediate generally rectangular segments disposed successively between the front end and the rear end segments. (d) opposing portions of the intermediate segments adjacent to each other provided with transverse concavities, (e) a longitudinal passage through the segments, (f) a plurality of rod shaped spacers disposed between the intermediate segments, (g) the spacers having transverse convexities in general conformity with the concavities of the adjacent intermediate segments, (h) the spacers having longitudinal passages therethrough in general registration with the longitudinal passages in the intermediate segments, (i) a stand, (j) the intermediate segments in alternation with the spacers strung on the strand with their respective concavities and convexities in engagement with each other, (k) the strand anchored at one end to the front end segment, (l) the passage in the rear end segment having a threaded portion, (m) a threaded plug in threaded engagement with the threaded passage in the rear end segment, (n) the strand anchored at its other end from the front end segment to the plug, (o) the threaded plug rotatable to exert or relax tension on the strand on which the intermediate segments and spacers are strung, (p) the tensioning of the strand engaging the convexities and concavities into frictional engagement wih the spacers intervening between the intermediate segments, to rigidize the attitude of the segments to each other in a preselected shape in which the intermediate segments have been deflected, (q) the relaxing of tension on the strand releasing the frictional engagement of the intermediate segments and spacers with each other until the segments become limp.