Surgical retractor with rotating blades

1. A surgical retractor comprising:

a retractor body;

a first retractor arm having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion attached to the retractor body and the second portion rotatably attached to the first portion and configured to retain a first retractor blade, wherein the second portion rotates about an axis parallel to a line drawn along a length of the first retractor arm;

a second retractor arm having a third portion and a fourth portion, the third portion attached to the retractor body and the fourth portion rotatably attached to the third portion and configured to retain a second retractor blade, wherein the fourth portion rotates about an axis parallel to a line drawn along a length of the second retractor arm;

a third retractor arm having a fifth portion and a sixth portion, the fifth portion attached to the retractor body and the sixth portion rotatably attached to the fifth portion and configured to retain a third retractor blade, wherein the sixth portion rotates about an axis perpendicular to a line drawn along a length of the third retractor arm; and

a spring located between the first and second portions, the spring biasing the second portion into a position such that the first retractor blade is substantially normal to a line drawn parallel to the first portion of the first retractor arm.

2. The surgical retractor of claim 1 , wherein the second portion may rotate through a range of motion of about 90 degrees.

3. The surgical retractor of claim 2 , wherein the second portion may rotate through a range of motion of about 45 degrees.

4. The surgical retractor of claim 1 , further comprising:

a pivot pin for connecting the second portion to the first portion.

5. The surgical retractor of claim 4 , further comprising:

a thumb screw mounted on the first portion of the first retractor arm and in contact with the second portion of the first retractor arm, such that, adjustment of the thumb screw causes rotation of the second portion of the first retractor arm.

6. The surgical retractor of claim 5 , wherein the second portion of the first retractor arm includes an aperture and wherein the thumb screw includes an end portion attached to the second portion through the aperture.

7. A surgical retractor comprising:

a retractor assembly;

a first retractor arm having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion attached to the retractor assembly;

a second retractor arm having a third portion and a fourth portion, the third portion attached to the retractor assembly;

a third retractor arm having a fifth portion and a sixth portion, the fifth portion attached to the retractor assembly;

means for rotatably attaching the sixth portion of the third retractor arm to the fifth portion, wherein the second portion and the sixth portion rotate about non-parallel axes;

means for rotatably attaching the second portion of the first retractor arm to the first portion; and

means for biasing the second portion of the first retractor arm in a first position.

8. The surgical retractor of claim 7 , further comprising:

means for rotating the second portion of the first retractor arm to a second position.

9. The surgical retractor of claim 8 ,

wherein the second portion of the first retractor arm comprises means for retaining a retractor blade,

wherein, in the first position, the retractor blade is generally normal to a line parallel with the retractor assembly, and

wherein, in the second position, the retractor blade is angled with respect to the line parallel with the retractor assembly.

10. A method of using a surgical retractor comprising:

creating an opening in a body of a patient, the opening having a proximal end near the skin of the patient and a distal end further inside the body of the patient;

providing a surgical retractor including three retractor arms,

a first retractor arm having a first portion and a second portion rotatably attached to the first portion, the second portion retaining a first retractor blade, wherein the second portion rotates about an axis parallel to a line drawn along a length of the first retractor arm,

a second retractor arm having a third portion and a fourth portion rotatably attached to the third portion, the fourth portion retaining a second retractor blade, wherein the fourth portion rotates about an axis parallel to a line drawn along a length of the second retractor arm, and

a third retractor arm having a fifth portion and a sixth portion rotatably attached to the fifth portion, the sixth portion retaining a third retractor blade and rotating about an axis perpendicular to a line drawn along a length of the third retractor arm,

wherein each retractor blade has a proximal end and a distal end;

inserting the first, second, and third retractor blades within the opening;

rotating the second portion of the first retractor arm, the fourth portion of the second retractor arm, and the sixth portion of the third retractor arm so that distal ends of the first, second, and third retractor blades enlarge the distal end of the opening without substantially increasing the proximal end of the opening; and

biasing at least one of the second portion of the first retractor arm, the fourth portion of the second retractor arm, and the sixth portion of the third retractor arm in a first position.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

adjusting a thumb screw to rotate at least one of the first portion of the first retractor arm, the third portion of the second retractor arm, and the fifth portion of the third retractor arm.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

creating an incision in the body of the patient;

inserting a dilator through the incision for creating the opening; and

dilating the opening to a size for receiving the first, second, and third retractor blades.