Mayo-Simpson-Collen Retractor

A Mayo-Simpson-Collen retractor is a surgical instrument used to widen wounds and access deep tissues and organs.

Named after the American surgeon William James Mayo (1861-1939), the Scottish gynecologist James Young Simpson (1811-1870) and the French medical instrument maker Armand Collin (1831-1923).

The instrument consists of two diverging jaws that can be moved apart to gradually widen the wound. The branches end in spatulas or hooks that secure the edges of the wound. The retractor allows the surgeon to gain a good view and access to the surgical field without damaging the tissue.

The Mayo-Simpson-Collen retractor is widely used in abdominal surgery, gynecology, urology and other areas to ensure adequate visualization and manipulation during surgery. This is an important tool that allows complex surgical procedures to be performed.

The discovery of the Mauos retractor represented a revolutionary step in gynecology and obstetrics. Simpson developed a surgical instrument for separating a child from its mother, and Collin improved the instruments of Simpson and Mayo to make them stronger and more reliable. Mayo was an experienced surgeon and his knowledge of the relationship between structure and function of the body helped him develop the first such instrument. His work became a model for subsequent research and innovation.

The dilator was originally created to make labor easier and reduce the risk of complications during childbirth. However, over time, its mechanism of action has been studied in more depth, and it has become apparent that it has the potential for many more applications. Another important factor for the invention of the retractor was that its creation was closely related to other medical instruments such as the scalpel, scissors and forceps. This allowed Mayo and other surgeons to expand the field