The Original Bookwalter Retractor: Top Tips for Maintenance and Repair
In September 2017, Surgical Holdings was proud to be appointed the exclusive distributor of the Original Bookwalter Retractor® by Symmetry Surgical®. This strategic partnership reaffirms Surgical Holdings’ standing as a leading distributor and repairer of high-precision surgical instruments, showcasing our commitment to innovation, credibility, and service excellence. Read on for our top maintenance tips!
The Original Bookwalter Retractor® is the brainchild of Dr. John Bookwalter, widely recognised as a pioneering figure in the field of modern surgery with over three decades of experience in developing groundbreaking medical equipment. The widely-utilised retractor device offers a solution to the challenges of holding open incisions in the abdominal, reflecting Dr. Bookwalter’s philosophy that “good exposure is the key to good surgery.” Today, the Original Bookwalter Retractor® is utilised in hospitals around the world, offering a trusted tool for the most critical cases in surgery.
The Bookwalter Retractor® finds application across various surgical disciplines, including general, vascular, gynaecological, rectal, spinal, cardiac, and urological procedures. Notably, urologists have embraced the device, particularly in renal transplant, cystectomy, and radical retropubic prostatectomy.
Benefits of the Original Bookwalter Retractor®:
- Mimicking natural motion: The device closely replicates the natural toe-in motion of hand-held retractors.
- Enhanced visualisation: The ring conforms to varying patient anatomy, improving surgical visibility.
- Configurability: A wide assortment of blades supports numerous surgical procedures.
- Lightweight design: Components reduce set weight, ensuring safety for nursing and processing staff.
- Compatibility: The device seamlessly integrates with all genuine Bookwalter components.
- Proven reliability: With over 30 years of innovation, performance, and reliability, the device is a trusted choice for surgeons.
New product innovations
The Bookwalter III Retractor Systemsupports a wide variety of configurations for various surgical disciplines. The Bookwalter continues to be at the forefront in retraction innovation, with the release of the amazing Rotilt Ratchet which combines the best features of past generations into a single ratchet that provides multiple configurations and reliable retraction in any position for Bookwalter Systems. The Self-Retaining RoTilt Ratchet is the product of three decades of innovation and continuous improvement.
Lightweight parts have also been introduced with the table post being the most significant one. The weight of the post coupler and horizontal fixed bar has also been reduced. The main upside of this is up to 2kg less weight for theatre staff and sterile services staff and the kits can now fit in one basket for washing and reprocessing rather than two.
Top Maintenance tips
To ensure the longevity of the Bookwalter Retractor®, regular maintenance is crucial. Here are some general guidelines on inspecting surgical retractors:
- Inspect the spring area for cracks
- Visually inspect blades for dents
- Inspect for broken, bent and chipped prongs on distal tips
- Inspect for cracks on either sides of the screw and for any blood or bioburden that may be baked on
- Flick the release lever, which should spring back into place and smoothly open and close
- Retractors should be visually inspected for chipping or flaking of the surface
Our expert repair and refurbishment service
Surgical Holdings goes beyond distribution by offering a comprehensive refurbishment service for Bookwalter Retractors. We repair and refurbish Bookwalter® retractors to make them look as good as new. This includes addressing issues with imitation retractors and providing replacements for components. Independent research indicates a remarkable 4x reduction in residual protein in instruments refurbished by Surgical Holdings.
Our team of highly skilled in-house technicians work their magic to regrind the surface of the rings and retractor blades, following the original Bookwalter specification finish. The refurbishment process addresses the issue of rougher and scratched stainless steel potentially harbouring protein, as our technicians completely regrind and remove any potentially concerning areas on the retractors, ultimately helping customers reduce their protein risk.
All instruments are returned with a 5-year warranty, with the date of refurbishment laser-printed onto each one.
Daniel Coole, managing director of Surgical Holdings, said: “We’ve essentially relaunched the Original Bookwalter Retractor® in the UK from a service and innovation perspective. Customers have been delighted with what we can do with their older sets, refinishing them to an extraordinarily high standard and upgrading parts for the new version, improving surgical access and patient safety.”
Own A Bookwalter Retractor Already? Surgical Holdings can repair and refurbish your current retractor to make it look as good as new. Find out more: https://www.surgicalholdings.co.uk/bookwalter-retractor.html