Sklar Bailey Rib Spreader, Adult
A 7-3/4 inch adult rib spreader used to hold the ribs apart and maintain stable access to the chest cavity during thoracic surgery. It is supplied for repeated sterilization and reuse in hospital and clinic settings.
The Sklar Bailey Rib Spreader is an adult thoracic instrument measuring 7-3/4 inches, used to hold the ribs apart once a thoracotomy incision has been made, giving the surgical team stable, sustained access to the chest cavity throughout the procedure. A ratcheted mechanism allows the surgeon to gradually widen the gap between the ribs to the extent needed for the operation, whether that is lung resection, cardiac surgery, or another intrathoracic procedure, and to hold that position hands free once set.
Maintaining a wide, stable opening is essential in thoracic surgery because the ribcage naturally resists spreading, and without a mechanical retractor the surgical field would collapse and obstruct the surgeon's view and instrument access. This spreader is a core instrument in adult thoracic and cardiac surgery sets, used by cardiothoracic surgeons across a wide range of open chest procedures.
It is a robust, reusable mechanical instrument designed to withstand the substantial forces involved in spreading the ribcage and is reprocessed between cases.
