Sterile Single-Use Surgical Retractors
SURE Retractors are sterile, single-use, radiolucent surgical retractors designed for orthopedic, trauma, and spinal surgery. No removal during imaging. No sterilization costs. No workflow disruption. Patented technology filed worldwide.
Why It Matters
Every time a surgeon needs intraoperative imaging, metal retractors come out. Then go back in. Then come out again. SURE Retractors end that cycle.
Radiolucent construction means retractors remain in the surgical field during fluoroscopy and X-ray. No removal, no reinsertion, no disruption. The imaging view stays clear while the retraction stays in place.
Eliminating the remove-image-replace cycle saves 5 to 7 minutes of operating room time per case. Across a full surgical schedule, that recovered time translates directly to increased case volume and reduced costs.
Every SURE Retractor arrives sterile and ready to use. No central sterile processing. No instrument tracking. No tray management. No repair costs. Open, use, dispose.
No specialized training required. SURE Retractors are designed to be intuitive for any OR staff member. The learning curve is zero beyond standard retractor use.
Product Lines
Designed for anterior cervical procedures where frequent imaging verification is standard. The radiolucent blades provide unobstructed lateral views without removing or repositioning the retractor. Sterile, single-use, ready out of the package.
Engineered for lumbar spinal surgery where deep tissue retraction and intraoperative imaging happen simultaneously. The radiolucent frame eliminates artifact and shadow, giving the surgeon a clean imaging field without losing retraction.
Developed in collaboration with the Department of Defense for field and trauma surgery environments. Built to perform in austere conditions where sterilization infrastructure is limited or unavailable. Sterile, single-use, mission-ready.
An integrated illumination accessory that delivers targeted light directly into the surgical field. Enhances visibility in deep cavities and narrow corridors where overhead OR lights cannot reach. Compatible with the SURE retractor platform.
How It Works
SURE Retractors integrate into existing surgical workflows with zero disruption. No new protocols. No special handling. No capital equipment.
Each retractor arrives individually sterile-packaged. No tray processing. No autoclave cycle. No instrument tracking. Pull from inventory, open, and the retractor is ready for the surgical field.
Position the retractor using standard surgical technique. The ergonomics are familiar to any surgeon or surgical assistant. No learning curve. No special instrumentation required.
When intraoperative imaging is needed, the retractor stays in place. The radiolucent material does not appear on fluoroscopy or X-ray. The surgeon gets a clear image and maintains retraction simultaneously.
After the procedure, the retractor is disposed of per facility protocol. No decontamination. No reprocessing. No return logistics. The sterile processing department is never involved.
Clinical Validation
Eliminating the retractor removal-replacement cycle during imaging saves measurable OR time. Across a typical surgical day, that adds up to one additional case slot or significant cost reduction.
Among the first surgeons to use SURE Retractors in clinical practice. The Texas Back Institute is one of the largest and most respected spine surgery centers in the United States.
Early clinical adoption at Howard University Hospital validated the retractor system in a high-volume academic medical center environment with diverse surgical case mix.
SURE Retractors are distributed through Spartan Medical, providing access to Military Treatment Facilities and VA Medical Centers across the country.
Purpose-built for environments where sterile processing capacity is constrained and surgical efficiency is critical. From stateside medical centers to forward-deployed surgical teams.
SURE Retractors technology is protected by patents filed worldwide. The core innovation addresses a fundamental surgical workflow inefficiency that existing instruments do not solve.
The OR Economics
Operating room time costs between $36 and $37 per minute on average. SURE Retractors save 5-7 minutes per case by keeping retractors in place during imaging.
Per Case Savings
$180 - $259
Based on 5-7 minutes saved at $36/min average OR cost. Does not include sterilization savings or increased case throughput.
Annual Impact (500 Cases)
$90K - $130K
OR time savings alone. Add sterilization cost elimination, reduced instrument repair, and increased surgical volume for total economic impact.
Sterilization Cost
Eliminated
Instrument Tracking
Eliminated
Surgical Volume
Maximized
Common Questions
Traditional metal retractors must be removed every time intraoperative imaging is required, because they block the X-ray or fluoroscopy view. Radiolucent retractors remain in place during imaging, saving 5-7 minutes of OR time per case and reducing the number of times the surgical field is disrupted.
SURE Retractors are designed for orthopedic, trauma, and spinal surgery, including cervical and lumbar procedures. The product line includes the Cervical Retractor System, Lumbar Retractor, SURE-Fire Retractor developed with the Department of Defense, and Surgical Light Wand.
Single-use retractors eliminate the cost of sterilization processing, instrument tracking, tray management, and repair or replacement of reusable instruments. They arrive sterile and ready to use, reducing central sterile department workload and eliminating cross-contamination risk.
No. SURE Retractors are designed so that any OR staff member can use them. There is no learning curve beyond standard retractor use. The instruments are intuitive and arrive sterile and ready to deploy.
SURE Retractors are distributed through Spartan Medical to Military Treatment Facilities and VA Medical Centers. Fair Winds Medical supports commercialization strategy and market access for the product line.
First clinical cases were performed by Dr. Richard Guyer at the Texas Back Institute and Dr. D. Fossett at Howard University Hospital. These early adopters validated the technology in both private-practice and academic medical center environments.
Yes. SURE Retractors hold patents filed worldwide. The core innovation addresses a fundamental surgical workflow inefficiency: the repeated removal and reinsertion of retractors during imaging-intensive procedures.
The SURE-Fire Retractor was developed in collaboration with the Department of Defense for use in field and trauma surgery environments. It is designed to perform in austere conditions where sterilization infrastructure is limited or unavailable, making it ideal for forward-deployed surgical teams.
Get Started
SURE Retractors save 5-7 minutes per case, eliminate sterilization costs, and require zero special training. Sterile, single-use, radiolucent. Contact us to learn how SURE Retractors fit your surgical program.