The present invention provides methods and apparatus in which a surgical retractor comprises a plurality of mechanically coupled tissue retaining walls that are guided into position along one or more guides previously implanted into the patient. After application to the cryogenic storage vessel, the invented insulation prevents foam fragments from separating from the cryogenic storage vessel when placed under thermal or physical stress. 8 or less comprises exposing a substrate to sequences of a non-hydroxylated silicon-containing precursor, activated oxygen species, and metal-containing precursor until a mixed metal-silicon-oxide film having a thickness of 500 \u212bngstroms or less is formed on the substrate. 5 times, preferably at least 3 times as large as the winding tension of the HTS conductor. The modules may also be offset horizontally, vertically or perpendicularly to one another. 5\xb0 in a wide-angle x-ray diffraction pattern, and the peak ratio defined by is no more than 3.