Heart valve retractor and sternum spreader surgical instrument

Claim 1

A valve retractor and sternum spreader surgical instrument comprising: a stationary arm having a first end and a second end; a toothed cross bar also having a first end and a second end, said toothed cross bar first end being secured to said first end of said stationary arm in a generally perpendicular relation and forming a generally L-shaped section; a moveable arm having a first end and a second end; said first end of said movable arm having a housing with a slotted opening which is attachable to said toothed cross bar and is laterally moveable along the length of said cross bar; a pair of load bearing swivel inserts demountably secured in said housing for containing and guiding said cross bar within said slotted opening of said housing on said moveable arm; said pair of load bearing swivel inserts comprises: a first insert and a second insert positioned separately in two swivel insert holes in said housing, said swivel insert holes being staggered and on opposite sides relative to said cross bar; said inserts are removable and can swivel in said swivel insert holes to allow said housing and said moveable arm to pivot slightly relative to said toothed cross bar to prevent said toothed cross bar from binding in said housing while said device is in use; each of said first and second inserts being cylindrical in shape; at least said first insert having a first secant flat width cut away laterally for creating a sliding surface, said width of said first secant flat being slightly larger than the thickness of said toothed cross bar so that said toothed cross bar can freely slide back and forth in said first secant flat cutaway; said first scant flat having a chord face, an upper secant portion, and a lower secant portion; rack and pinion means in said housing for moving said moveable arm along the length of said cross bar; said stationary arm and said moveable arm being in a spaced parallel relationship with each other and able to open and close parallel to each other by rotating said rack and pinion means in said housing of said moveable arm; both said moveable arm and said stationary arm having a plurality of swivel blades connected to them and extending below such that said blades can engage the walls of a surgically cut opening on a patient and said movable arm can be extended away from said stationary arm by rotating said rack and pinion means to spread apart and hold open the walls of the opening thereby exposing a body cavity for allowing the surgeon to operate.