Adas Instruments manufactures self-retaining retractors in German surgical stainless steel — Weitlaner, Gelpi, Plester, Jansen and West patterns with blunt or sharp prongs, all with locking ratchets that hold exposure without an assistant.

What is the difference between a Weitlaner and a Gelpi retractor?

Both are ratcheted self-retaining retractors. The Weitlaner has multi-pronged rake ends that spread the wound edges over a broad area, making it the general-purpose choice for superficial exposure. The Gelpi has single sharp points that anchor deep in tissue, giving narrow, deep exposure for spine, ear and small-incision work. Most surgical trays carry both.

Note: the Weitlaner retractor is often written phonetically as “wheatlander retractor” in searches; both names refer to the same instrument.