Table mounted surgical retractor

A surgical retraction system for attachment to the rail of a conventional surgical table, comprising:

• post means including an upper end and a lower end for extending upwardly from the rail;
• extension arm means securable to said post means for extending relative to the table;
• at least one retractor blade securable to said extension arm;
• and
• clamp means for securing said post means to the rail, said clamp means including:
• (i) a lower jaw member carried by said post means and having a first jaw surface means for seating against one portion of the rail, said lower jaw member having a first set of thread means formed on an outer surface of said lower jaw member;
• (ii) an upper jaw member carried by said post means and movable relative to said lower jaw member, said upper jaw member having a second jaw surface means for seating against another portion of the rail and having a second set of thread means mateable with said first set of thread means for causing relative movement of said jaw surface means as said first and second thread means are rotated relative to one another, said upper jaw member including a handle portion means manually rotatable for causing relative rotation of said first and second thread means;
• (iii) first stop means for preventing removal of said lower jaw member and said upper jaw member from the lower end of said post means;
• and
• (iv) second stop means for preventing said upper jaw member from being removed from the upper end of said post means, said second stop means being spaced a distance from said first stop means for permitting relative lateral movement of said lower and upper jaw members to a separation distance which permits cleaning and lubrication of said first and second thread means.