Designed for the People Who Keep the OR Running

The TITAN CSR® retractor is a lightweight, self-retaining, Post-Free™ abdominal retractor designed to provide superior surgical exposure without requiring an attachment to the operating table. For OR nurses and Sterile Processing personnel, that translates into a simpler retraction system with fewer heavy components to set up, handle, count, clean, sterilize, transport, and store.In the OR, eliminating the traditional table-mounted post, horizontal bar, couplings, and related hardware simplifies workflow and removes the circulating nurse from retractor setup. For Sterile Processing, the core TITAN CSR® retractor consists of only 10 reusable components and weighs 2.2 pounds fully assembled.The result is a retractor system designed to improve not only surgical exposure, but also the workflow surrounding that exposure from OR setup through reprocessing.

The TITAN CSR® retractor eliminates the vertical post, horizontal bar, couplings, and table-mounted hardware required with traditional table-mounted retractor systems. There is no need to work underneath or around the operating table to attach retractor components before surgical retraction can begin.With fewer components to assemble and no table attachment required, setup is faster and less cumbersome. The Post-Free™ design also eliminates post-related obstruction around the surgical field and removes a potential source of sterile-field contamination associated with attaching equipment to the operating table.For the OR team, the practical benefit is less equipment to manage, fewer setup steps, and fewer workflow disruptions during the case.

No. One of the most significant workflow advantages of the TITAN CSR® retractor for OR nurses is that the circulating nurse is no longer responsible for attaching a retractor post or other components to the operating table.Traditional table-mounted retractors require the circulating nurse to connect the vertical post to the bed, often requiring staff to work underneath or around the operating table.The TITAN CSR® retractor is completely Post-Free™ and is assembled and deployed within the sterile field without any connection to the operating table. Published clinical experience specifically notes that a circulating nurse is not required for retractor setup. This allows the circulating nurse to remain focused on patient care, documentation, equipment needs, and the many other responsibilities required to keep the OR running efficiently.Simply put: no post to retrieve, no post to attach, and no table-mounted retractor setup.

The TITAN CSR® retractor reduces several time-consuming steps associated with traditional table-mounted retractor systems.Because the TITAN CSR® retractor is Post-Free™, there is no vertical post, horizontal bar, coupling, or table attachment to retrieve and assemble. The circulating nurse is not required to participate in retractor setup, allowing that team member to remain focused on other responsibilities in the room.The TITAN CSR® retractor also has fewer components to manage and count. This can reduce the time surgical technologists and nurses spend accounting for retractor components at both the beginning and end of the procedure. Published clinical experience notes that having fewer parts to count and assemble saves valuable OR time during assembly and disassembly.At the end of the case, fewer components and trays also mean less equipment to break down and send for reprocessing, helping support faster room turnover.The practical benefit is cumulative: faster setup, fewer items to count, no circulating-nurse involvement in table-mounted retractor assembly, and simpler breakdown at the end of the case can all help reduce unnecessary OR workflow time.

The TITAN CSR® retractor uses a one-way assembly design intended to simplify setup and reduce assembly errors and inefficiencies.The core system consists of two modular frame arms, four blade clamps, and four abdominal wall blades. It can be assembled on the back table and prepared in a surgeon-ready configuration without requiring staff to assemble a separate post, horizontal bar, coupling, and table attachment.As with any new surgical device, hands-on training is important so staff understand the button functions, locking mechanisms, blade-height adjustments, assembly, and disassembly before clinical use.

The core TITAN CSR® retractor weighs 2.2 pounds fully assembled. In a published equivalent-component comparison, a comparable Bookwalter® configuration weighed 11.9 pounds when the ring, blades, ratchets, vertical post, horizontal post, and coupling were included.Looking at the broader equipment burden, a full Bookwalter® system may weigh approximately 36–40 pounds and commonly requires two to three trays. By comparison, the TITAN CSR® retractor with its accessory blade set weighs approximately 6.6 pounds, allowing the retractor and accessory blades to be consolidated into a much lighter configuration.This is particularly relevant for OR nurses and SPD personnel who repeatedly lift, transport, clean, package, sterilize, and store instrument sets throughout the workday. AORN and AAMI guidance addresses instrument-set weight and ergonomics, with 25 pounds commonly cited as the maximum recommended weight for containerized instrument sets; some hospitals establish even lower internal limits. The lightweight construction of the TITAN CSR® retractor helps reduce the cumulative lifting and handling burden placed on the perioperative and Sterile Processing teams.

Traditional table-mounted retractor systems can require multiple trays containing a frame, vertical post, horizontal bar, couplings, ratchets, blades, and other mounting hardware.The core TITAN CSR® retractor consists of only 10 reusable components and eliminates the table-mounted post and its associated hardware. For the OR team, fewer components mean fewer items to retrieve, assemble, manage, and count at both the beginning and end of the procedure. For SPD, it means fewer components to clean, inspect, package, sterilize, transport, and store.Even when the accessory blade set is added, the complete configuration remains substantially lighter and more consolidated than a traditional full table-mounted retractor system.

Yes. The TITAN CSR® retractor can be used across multiple surgical service lines, including trauma, emergency general surgery, elective general surgery, colorectal, surgical oncology, vascular, transplant, and other open procedures.Because the same platform can provide rapid abdominal wall retraction and also accept additional Bookwalter®-compatible blades for more complex exposure, hospitals may be able to reduce dependence on multiple separate retractor platforms for different case types.For SPD, greater standardization can mean fewer different retractor systems to inventory, assemble, maintain, store, and keep ready for use.

After point-of-use care, the TITAN CSR® retractor is disassembled into its 10 individual components for cleaning. The validated process includes enzymatic pre-cleaning and brushing, with particular attention to the blade clamps, springs, locking mechanisms, grooves, and other crevices where debris could remain.The TITAN CSR® retractor may also be cleaned in an ultrasonic washer before being placed into an automated washer/disinfector. The IFU provides validated washer/disinfector parameters for pre-rinse, detergent washing, rinsing, thermal disinfection, and drying.The cleaning process is designed to integrate into a conventional hospital Sterile Processing workflow.

No proprietary cleaning equipment is specified in the IFU. The validated cleaning process uses standard SPD resources such as enzymatic detergent, a firm-bristled cleaning brush, an optional ultrasonic washer, and a validated automated washer/disinfector.The validated process does not require specialized proprietary cleaning equipment or a separate reprocessing platform.As with any reusable surgical instrument, facilities should follow the TITAN CSR® retractor IFU along with the instructions for their detergents, washers, and other reprocessing equipment.

Yes. The TITAN CSR® retractor has been validated for steam sterilization both fully assembled and completely disassembled into its 10 individual components. Because these represent the validated extremes of assembly, it may also be sterilized in any intermediate stage of assembly after all components have been properly cleaned and inspected.This gives OR and SPD teams flexibility in how the system is packaged and prepared for subsequent cases and can allow the TITAN CSR® retractor to arrive in the OR already assembled or partially assembled.The validated cycle is a pre-vacuum/vacuum-pulse steam cycle at a minimum temperature of 132°C/270°F, with a minimum exposure time of four minutes and minimum dry time of 30 minutes. Both fully assembled and completely disassembled configurations achieved a Sterility Assurance Level of 10⁻⁶ and met drying requirements during validation.

After cleaning, SPD should inspect the TITAN CSR® retractor for any remaining blood, tissue, body fluids, or debris. If visible contamination remains, the component should be returned to the decontamination area for additional cleaning.The TITAN CSR® retractor should then be function-checked, including the locking mechanisms, expansion and contraction of the frame, blade clamps, and blade-height adjustments. Components should also be inspected for wear, deformation, damage, or other imperfections.Compressed air may be used to assist with drying around springs, locking mechanisms, and thumb-activated buttons. The locking mechanisms and blade clamps may also be lubricated with a water-soluble lubricant compatible with the subsequent sterilization process. Oil- and silicone-based lubricants should not be used.

Traditional table-mounted retractor systems frequently require multiple heavy trays, which consume space on case carts, sterilizer racks, and sterile-storage shelves.The smaller and lighter configuration of the TITAN CSR® retractor allows more efficient use of this space. Consolidating retractor components into fewer, lighter trays can also reduce excessive instrument weight and density, factors that can contribute to drying challenges and wet-pack concerns.For busy Sterile Processing departments, reducing the number, size, and weight of retractor trays can help improve instrument-container throughput while freeing sterilizer-rack and storage capacity for other surgical sets.

Yes. The TITAN CSR® retractor is compatible with Bookwalter®-compatible retractor blades and attachments.This allows hospitals to continue using compatible accessory blades they may already own rather than replacing their existing blade inventory when adopting the TITAN CSR® retractor.It also allows surgeons to use familiar Richardson, malleable, and other compatible blades for additional upper abdominal, pelvic, deep, or retroperitoneal retraction while maintaining the Post-Free™ configuration.

The TITAN CSR® Lighted Retractor Blade is a reusable, re-sterilizable stainless-steel surgical blade. The TITAN CSR® Blade Light is the sterile, single-use, battery-powered LED light source that attaches to it.The TITAN CSR® Blade Light arrives sterile and provides up to 90 minutes of illumination. It should not be reused or re-sterilized and should be disposed of after use according to local regulations for the device and battery.This keeps the workflow straightforward: SPD reprocesses the reusable TITAN CSR® Lighted Retractor Blade, while a new sterile TITAN CSR® Blade Light is opened for the case whenever illumination is needed.

The TITAN CSR® Blade Light is battery powered, so it does not require a fiber-optic light source, fiber-optic cable, or external power connection.This eliminates the cable running from the sterile field to a separate light source, reducing equipment clutter and associated trip hazards in the OR. It also eliminates the time and workflow involved in locating, connecting, positioning, and troubleshooting an external fiber-optic light source.Because the lighting system is self-contained, targeted illumination can also be used in locations where a conventional fiber-optic light source may not be readily available.The reusable TITAN CSR® Lighted Retractor Blade can be used with the TITAN CSR® retractor as well as standard Bookwalter® frames, providing additional flexibility for the OR team.

Point-of-use care begins in the OR. Visible blood, tissue, body fluids, and debris should be wiped from the TITAN CSR® retractor after use and should not be allowed to dry on the instruments.The TITAN CSR® retractor and reusable accessories should then be placed in a closed tray, container, or case cart and transported to the Sterile Processing department as soon as possible to reduce the risk of cross-contamination and facilitate cleaning.Effective point-of-use care makes subsequent cleaning easier for SPD and supports consistent reprocessing of the system.

Routine maintenance primarily consists of proper cleaning, inspection, function testing, and appropriate lubrication of moving components.After reprocessing, SPD should verify that the locking mechanisms, frame expansion and contraction, blade clamps, and blade-height adjustments function properly. Water-soluble lubricant compatible with steam sterilization may be applied to the locking mechanisms and blade clamps when needed. Oil- and silicone-based lubricants should not be used.If a component is damaged, deformed, or does not function properly, it should be removed from service and ASR Systems® contacted for further instructions. Repair or alteration by a provider not specifically authorized by ASR Systems® may void the product warranty.

ASR Systems® provides separate, role-specific education so that each member of the perioperative team understands the aspects of the TITAN CSR® retractor relevant to their responsibilities.OR staff training focuses on system components, assembly and disassembly, setup, accessory blades, the TITAN CSR® Lighted Retractor Blade, and practical intraoperative workflow.Sterile Processing training focuses on disassembly, cleaning, inspection, packaging, sterilization, and proper handling of reusable components.Separate training for surgeons, OR personnel, and SPD helps ensure that the entire perioperative team understands the TITAN CSR® retractor before clinical implementation rather than relying on one group to train everyone else.