A retractor (20, 120, 220, 320) for percutaneous surgery in a patient, comprising: a first portion (22, 122, 222, 322) having a proximal end (26, 126, 226, 326), and a distal end (24, 124, 224, 324); a second portion (42, 142, 242, 342) having a proximal end (46, 146, 246, 346) coupled to and at said proximal end (26, 126, 226, 326) of said first portion, said second portion (42, 142, 242, 342) having a distal end and forming with said first portion (22, 122, 222, 322) a working channel, said working channel having a length between said distal ends (24, 44, 124, 144, 224, 244, 324, 344) and said proximal ends (26, 46, 126, 146, 226, 246, 326, 346) of said first and second portions and a size between said first portion (22, 122, 222, 322) and said second portion (42, 142, 242, 342) along said length, wherein: said first and second portions (22, 42, 122, 142, 222, 242, 322, 342) are positionable in an unexpanded configuration with said distal ends (24, 44, 124, 144, 224, 244, 324, 344) of said first and second portions in the patient and said proximal ends (26, 46, 126, 146, 226, 246, 326, 346) of said first and second portions outside the patient; and said first and second portions (22, 42, 122, 142, 222, 242, 322, 342) are movable to an expanded configuration wherein said working channel comprises a closed configuration and tapers in size from said distal ends (24, 44, 124, 144, 224, 244, 324, 344) in the patient to said proximal ends (26, 46, 126, 146, 226, 246, 326, 346) outside the patient, wherein the size of the working channel decreases from the distal ends (24, 44, 124, 144, 224, 244, 324, 344) to the proximal ends (26, 46, 126, 146, 226, 246, 326, 346) when the retractor (20, 120, 220, 320) is in the expanded condition. a first portion (22, 122, 222, 322) having a proximal end (26, 126, 226, 326), and a distal end (24, 124, 224, 324); a second portion (42, 142, 242, 342) having a proximal end (46, 146, 246, 346) coupled to and at said proximal end (26, 126, 226, 326) of said first portion, said second portion (42, 142, 242, 342) having a distal end and forming with said first portion (22, 122, 222, 322) a working channel, said working channel having a length between said distal ends (24, 44, 124, 144, 224, 244, 324, 344) and said proximal ends (26, 46, 126, 146, 226, 246, 326, 346) of said first and second portions and a size between said first portion (22, 122, 222, 322) and said second portion (42, 142, 242, 342) along said length, wherein: said first and second portions (22, 42, 122, 142, 222, 242, 322, 342) are positionable in an unexpanded configuration with said distal ends (24, 44, 124, 144, 224, 244, 324, 344) of said first and second portions in the patient and said proximal ends (26, 46, 126, 146, 226, 246, 326, 346) of said first and second portions outside the patient; and said first and second portions (22, 42, 122, 142, 222, 242, 322, 342) are movable to an expanded configuration wherein said working channel comprises a closed configuration and tapers in size from said distal ends (24, 44, 124, 144, 224, 244, 324, 344) in the patient to said proximal ends (26, 46, 126, 146, 226, 246, 326, 346) outside the patient, wherein the size of the working channel decreases from the distal ends (24, 44, 124, 144, 224, 244, 324, 344) to the proximal ends (26, 46, 126, 146, 226, 246, 326, 346) when the retractor (20, 120, 220, 320) is in the expanded condition. said first and second portions (22, 42, 122, 142, 222, 242, 322, 342) are positionable in an unexpanded configuration with said distal ends (24, 44, 124, 144, 224, 244, 324, 344) of said first and second portions in the patient and said proximal ends (26, 46, 126, 146, 226, 246, 326, 346) of said first and second portions outside the patient; and said first and second portions (22, 42, 122, 142, 222, 242, 322, 342) are movable to an expanded configuration wherein said working channel comprises a closed configuration and tapers in size from said distal ends (24, 44, 124, 144, 224, 244, 324, 344) in the patient to said proximal ends (26, 46, 126, 146, 226, 246, 326, 346) outside the patient, wherein the size of the working channel decreases from the distal ends (24, 44, 124, 144, 224, 244, 324, 344) to the proximal ends (26, 46, 126, 146, 226, 246, 326, 346) when the retractor (20, 120, 220, 320) is in the expanded condition.