Start with the mechanism
A surgical retractor draws aside the edges of an incision or wound. Manufacturer catalogs group retractors by how the instrument stays in position.
- Hand-held retractor
- Someone holds it in place during use. Designs include single-ended and double-ended blades, pronged rakes and hooks.
- Self-retaining retractor
- Opposing arms carry blades or prongs that stay open at a set spread. A ratchet, spring or other locking mechanism holds that spread.
- Retractor system
- Separate blades mount on a frame, ring or bar. Table-mounted systems fix that frame at the operating table.
This guide explains construction and specification terms only. The choice of retractor for a procedure belongs to your clinical team.
Clear Choice Medical is an independent dealer and is not affiliated with any manufacturer. Brand and pattern names identify equipment only. Inventory changes as items are bought and sold.
Hand-held retractors
A hand-held retractor is one instrument with a working end and a handle. The working end may be a flat or curved blade, a rake of prongs or a hook. Double-ended patterns carry a working end at both ends of the handle.
Named patterns show the range. A Hohmann has a slim, flat handle that flares into a leaf-shaped tip, and catalogs list it by blade width. A Senn is double-ended, with three prongs at one end and an L-shaped end at the other. A Deaver has a long, flat blade curved like a question mark.
The Surgical Retractors category covers hand-held patterns such as Hohmann, Deaver and Senn retractors. It also covers pronged Volkmann retractors.
Compare these details on a hand-held retractor:
- The pattern name, plus the manufacturer and reference number where shown
- Blade width and blade depth, which catalogs state as separate figures
- Overall length, in one consistent unit
- Single-ended or double-ended design
- The prong count and whether the prongs are sharp or blunt
- The light connection on a fiber optic pattern, and whether a light cable is included
Self-retaining retractors
A self-retaining retractor holds its spread without a hand on it. Compact patterns such as the Weitlaner and Gelpi have two arms, ring handles and a ratchet that locks the spread.
A Weitlaner has pronged arms, for example three prongs on one arm and four on the other. Catalogs write that layout as 3 x 4 and state whether the prongs are sharp or blunt. A Gelpi ends in a single hooked point on each arm.
Some patterns have hinged arms, such as the Beckman-Weitlaner. Larger patterns such as the Balfour carry two side blades and a center blade. Catalogs state the spread and blade depth, such as a 7 inch spread with 2 inch deep blades.
Eyelid specula are self-retaining too. Two arms or wire loops hold the eyelids apart, opened by a spring or set with an adjustable lock. Catalogs list blade size, blade spread and overall length.
The Surgical Retractors category covers self-retaining patterns such as Weitlaner, Gelpi and Beckman retractors. It also covers eye specula, including Barraquer wire specula.
Compare these details on a self-retaining retractor:
- The pattern name, plus the manufacturer and reference number where shown
- Overall length and the maximum spread, where the catalog states one
- The prong count on each arm, such as 3 x 4, and sharp or blunt tips
- Straight, angled or hinged arms
- Fixed or removable blades, and which blades come with the listing
Retractor systems and multi-piece sets
A retractor system is a group of parts that work together. A frame or ring carries the blades. Posts and bars support the frame, and ratchets hold each blade in position. Blades can be sold separately in several widths and lengths.
A frame can also come without blades. A Scoville-Haverfield frame, for example, is cataloged as the frame only or with one hook and one blade.
Pattern names also appear on system blades. For example, the Bookwalter catalog lists Balfour, Kelly and Deaver blades for its system. Those blades are different items from standalone retractors with the same names.
Do not assume a blade or frame from one product family fits another. Some makers publish compatibility statements for their parts, so check any such statement against the exact parts involved. Similar appearance is not proof of a match.
The Surgical Retractor Sets category covers multi-piece retractor sets and retractor systems. Compare the piece list in the photos with the system your facility already uses.
One pattern name can cover several designs
A pattern name narrows a search, but it does not always identify the mechanism. The same name can appear on hand-held retractors, self-retaining retractors and system blades.
- Scoville
- The name appears on hand-held retractors with a hooked tip. It also appears on self-retaining Scoville-Haverfield frames with hinged arms.
- Meyerding
- The name appears on hand-held Meyerding finger retractors and on self-retaining Meyerding retractors. Separate Meyerding blades are also made for retraction systems.
- Weitlaner
- Weitlaner names a self-retaining pattern, and Beckman-Weitlaner names a hinged version. Several manufacturers make a Weitlaner in more than one length and prong count.
Read the listing title and photos together. Where a title gives only a pattern name, check the photos for the mechanism, the working ends and any markings.
Use consistent specification fields
Record each detail as its own field. Two listings are then easier to compare side by side.
- Retractor type
- Hand-held, self-retaining or a system component.
- Pattern name
- The name in the title, such as Weitlaner or Hohmann. Treat it as a starting point, not a full specification.
- Working end
- Blade, rake, hook or prongs. For prongs, note the count on each arm and whether the tips are sharp or blunt.
- Dimensions
- Overall length, blade width and blade depth, each in one unit. Add the maximum spread for a self-retaining pattern.
- Mechanism
- Note the ratchet, spring or hinge where the design has one.
- Identification
- Manufacturer and reference number where shown, from the title or the markings in the photos.
- Included pieces
- For sets and systems, the frame, blades and other parts shown in the photos.
Laparoscopic retractors, including fan retractors, use different fields. Catalogs list them by diameter and working length, such as 5 mm by 34 cm.
If a dimension is missing from the listing, do not infer it from a similar product.
Surgical retractor buyer checklist
- Identify whether the item is hand-held, self-retaining or part of a system.
- Check the pattern name, then the manufacturer and reference number where shown.
- Compare blade width, blade depth and overall length as separate figures.
- For pronged patterns, compare the prong count on each arm and the tip type.
- Note the ratchet, hinge, spring or lock that holds a self-retaining pattern open.
- For systems and sets, compare the full piece list with the equipment you already use.
- Use manufacturer documentation to verify any blade, frame or component match.
Buyer FAQ
What is the difference between a hand-held and a self-retaining retractor?
A self-retaining retractor holds itself open, while someone must hold a hand-held retractor in place. The self-retaining type keeps its spread with a ratchet, spring or other lock. A hand-held retractor has no locking mechanism. Both types come in many named patterns and sizes. When you match a replacement, compare the mechanism first. Then compare the pattern name, dimensions and working ends.
What do names such as Weitlaner, McCulloch and Scoville mean?
They are pattern names that identify a design, not a manufacturer. Several makers produce a Weitlaner, which is a self-retaining retractor with pronged arms and a ratchet. McCulloch names a retractor system with a frame and separate blades. Scoville appears on hand-held retractors and on self-retaining frames. A pattern name narrows the search. Compare the manufacturer, dimensions and included parts before you treat two items as the same.
Is an eye speculum a retractor?
Yes. An eyelid speculum is a self-retaining instrument that holds the eyelids apart. It typically has two arms or wire loops, opened by a spring or set with an adjustable lock. Catalogs list blade size, blade spread and overall length. On this site, the Surgical Retractors category covers eye specula. Compare the pattern name and those three figures before you buy.
How should I compare two retractor systems?
Compare them part by part. List the frame or ring, the blades and any posts or ratchets shown in each listing. Then compare those parts with the system your facility already uses. Blades can come in several widths and lengths, so note each size. Some makers publish compatibility statements for their parts. Verify any such statement for the exact parts, because similar appearance does not prove a match.