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Heaney Retractor

Right-angled vaginal retractor — flat blade with a handle perpendicular to the blade.

Design​

  • Flat rectangular blade (various widths and lengths)
  • Handle at 90° to the blade — allows traction without obscuring the surgeon's field
  • Non-self-retaining — held by the assistant

Key Uses​

  • Retracting the anterior or posterior vaginal wall during vaginal surgery
  • Bladder retraction during VVF repair
  • Rectum retraction during rectovaginal fistula repair
  • General vaginal wall retraction in urogynecologic operations

Designed by Noble Sproat Heaney (1880–1955) alongside his needle driver for vaginal hysterectomy. See the Heaney Needle Driver page for historical context.

See also: Breisky, Weighted Speculum.