Balfour Abdominal Retractor 20cm

Clinical Application

This self-retaining abdominal retractor is designed to provide broad, hands-free exposure of the abdominal cavity during open laparotomy. It is used to maintain continuous wound retraction for procedures such as exploratory laparotomy, bowel resection and anastomosis, hepatic and splenic procedures, gynecologic surgeries, urologic access, and trauma laparotomies. By stabilizing wound edges and providing unobstructed access, the retractor allows the surgeon to position instruments, perform suturing, obtain haemostasis, and accommodate suction and cautery without continuous manual retraction.

Design & Configuration

The open-frame Balfour design combines a central blade with adjustable lateral blades mounted on a ratcheting frame. Incremental locking lets the surgeon set and maintain the desired degree of opening while minimizing torque on wound edges. The lateral blades distribute retraction forces over a wider area to improve exposure of the anterior abdominal wall and reduce focal pressure on tissue. The 20 cm size provides a moderate depth of exposure appropriate for standard adult midline incisions, balancing reach and stability in common general and specialty abdominal procedures.

Instrument Specifications

• Instrument type: Self-retaining abdominal retractor
• Pattern / model: Balfour
• Configuration: Open-frame with adjustable lateral blades and central blade; ratchet locking mechanism
• Length / size: 20 cm
• Typical surgical use: Midline laparotomy and broad abdominal exposure
• Material / construction: Surgical-grade stainless steel, reusable

Material & Construction

Constructed from surgical-grade stainless steel for corrosion resistance and repeated sterilization cycles. The rigid open-frame architecture and robust locking ratchet are intended for repeated intraoperative use and provide stable, hands-free retraction. Reusable design supports standard cleaning and steam sterilization workflows in central sterile processing.

Quality & Compliance

Manufactured by FDA-registered OEM facilities and produced under strict quality control standards.

Brand Comparison

Comparable in form and function to equivalent instruments offered by major US medical suppliers.

Availability & Returns

• In-stock lead time: ships within ~1 week
• Out-of-stock lead time: 2–4 weeks
• Returns: 30-day return policy