Surgical retractor apparatus with improved clamping device

A retractor apparatus for fastening to the side rails of an operating table covered by a surgical drape having a sterile and an unsterile side, said retractor apparatus including support members to be secured to the side rails and extending upwardly above the level of said operating table surgical retractors adjustably secured to said support members and, clamping devices for securing said support members to said side rails and supporting said apparatus on the sterile side of said surgical drape covering the operating table, each of said clamping devices comprising:

• a first member having a first clamping portion for engaging the sterile side of the surgical drape to clamp the unsterile side of the surgical drape against the side rail and having a first passage extending therethrough, through which one of the support members extends;
• a second member pivotally attached to the first member having a second clamping portion for engaging the sterile side of the surgical drape to clamp the unsterile side of the surgical drape against the side rail, the second member pivoting to a clamping position with the first clamping member, and said second member having a second passage extending therethrough alignable with the first passage, the support member of the retractor apparatus extending from the first passage into and through the second passage;
• means for tightening the first and second clamping members into the clamping position;
• and
• means for holding the support member of the retractor apparatus in fixed position within the first and second passages.