Clamping retractor assembly

A clamping retractor assembly for retracting soft tissue in a surgical incision, the assembly comprising;

• a support member having first and second ends;
• a retractor blade having a blade arm, a distal end and a proximal end retained by the support member;
• a retaining arm co-operating with the support member the supporting member receiving and supporting the co-operating retaining arm;
• wherein the clamping retractor assembly includes a clamping member having a bearing face which opposes retractor blade and which engages the co-operating retaining arm and allows the clamping member to move over a distance relative to the distal end of the retractor blade between a clamped state in which body tissues are subject to a clamping force induced by co-operation between the retractor blade and the clamping member, thereby retracting a wall of an incision depending upon the retraction force required and an unclamped state in which the assembly does not induce a clamping force;
• and wherein, a vertical position of clamping member is selectively adjustable via actuating member, along the retaining arm and relative to support member;
• the clamping retractor assembly further comprising a runner which supports the retaining arm and includes a locking member which allows locking of said runner at a selected position along the support member.