Self-retaining retractor for vaginal operations.

A self-retaining retractor designed for the performance of vaginal operations reduces the physical effort by the assistant, improves the assistant's efficiency, and provides adequate, continuous exposure. In most instances, it eliminates the need for a second assistant. The retractor is composed of a vaginal ring, five retractor blades, four ratchets, and two accompanying bars to secure it in position. The mechanism of self-retraction is achieved by the pushing tension of the retracted tissues on the blades. It is most adequate for educational purposes, since the teaching surgeon, acting as assistant, is not obligated to hold retracting blades and can participate more freely in directing the procedure. The surgeon is provided with continuous adequate exposure regardless of the degree of expertise of the assistants.