Abstract: A retractor system and related methods for use in spinal surgery procedures, including but not limited to fusing or repairing damaged or deteriorated intervertebral discs or vertebral bodies in the lower lumbar levels. The retractor system includes a plurality of blade assemblies coupled to a handle assembly, wherein each of the blade assemblies may be independently adjusted (e.g. length blade and/or blade angulation and/or blade rotation relative to the handle assembly) to provide unprecedented customization of an operative corridor extending to the surgical target site of the patient such that any number of spinal surgery procedures may be undertaken by a surgeon, including but not limited to spinal fusion procedures at the L5-S1 disc space.

Abstract: A felt pad having a beveled front end is produced from a workpiece having a flat bottom with an adhesive thereon covered with a strip of paper or the like and a straight front end. The apparatus includes a rotatable shaft having mounted thereon an abrasive wheel and a wire brush wheel including a cylindrical portion of the same diameter as the abrasive wheel abutting the abrasive wheel and a tapered portion extending toward the shaft axis. A shear plate provides a cutting surface with the abrasive wheel. The workpiece is mounted on a table and fed parallel to the shaft axis with its forward end also parallel thereto. The rotating brush bevels the front end of the pad and fuzz still attached to the pad is removed as it passes between the abrasive wheel and shear plate. A shroud surrounds the wheels and a suction is applied thereto to draw off the materials removed from the workpiece.