Retractor distractor blade system

A blade system (100) for a surgical retractor tool (10), the surgical retractor tool (10) having a body including a plurality of arms moveable away from each other or towards each other in a controlled manner, comprising:

• a retractor blade (18) for attachment to one of the plurality of arms of the surgical retractor tool (10), the retractor blade (18) having an elongate body portion (60), the elongate body portion (60) configured to extend from a position outside of an animal body to a spine bone of the animal body, the retractor blade (18) being configured to contact and distract tissue surrounding the retractor blade (18) to provide a visual pathway to a surgical site, a first end (16) of the retractor blade (18) including structures for attaching the retractor blade (18) to the retractor tool (10), a second end (28) of the retractor blade (18) including a grasping assembly (29) for grasping a bone screw (30), the bone screw (30) securable to a bone for securing the retractor blade (18), and thus the surgical retractor tool (10), in position with respect to the bone screw, wherein the retractor blade (18) includes an outrigger assembly (64) for attachment to one of the plurality of arms of the retractor distractor (10), the outrigger assembly (64) secured to a rear surface (68) of the retractor blade (18), and wherein the outrigger assembly (64) includes a post member (66) positioned to engage an aperture of the retractor tool (10) for rotational movement around a central axis of the post member (66), and wherein the outrigger assembly (64) includes a jack bolt (62), the jack bolt (62) positioned to cooperate with a portion of the retractor tool (10) to provide angular adjustment and fixation to the rotation between the retractor blade (18) and the retractor tool (10).

A blade system (100) for a surgical retractor tool (10), the surgical retractor tool (10) having a body including a plurality of arms moveable away from each other or towards each other in a controlled manner, comprising:

• a retractor blade (18) for attachment to one of the plurality of arms of the surgical retractor tool (10), the retractor blade (18) having an elongate body portion (60), the elongate body portion (60) configured to extend from a position outside of an animal body to a spine bone of the animal body, the retractor blade (18) being configured to contact and distract tissue surrounding the retractor blade (18) to provide a visual pathway to a surgical site, a first end (16) including structures for attaching the retractor blade (18) to the retractor tool (10), a second end (28) including a grasping assembly (29) for grasping a bone screw (30), the grasping assembly (29) including a flexible lasso (26) having a length extending from the first end (16) and configured to form a loop at the second end (28) of the retractor blade (18), the loop configured to be attached around a portion of the bone screw (30) and to be adjusted between a loose and a tightened configuration to thereby releasably secure the second end (28) of the retractor blade (18) to the bone screw (30), the bone screw (30) securable to a bone for securing the retractor blade (18), and thus the surgical retractor tool (10), in position with respect to the bone screw.