Patent ID: 7014608

Claim:
A retractor system comprising: a. a retractor body having a closed position and an open position, said closed position presenting a substantially linear form for ease in placement of the closed retractor body in a region to be retracted, and said open position providing a working area that is greater than, but only slightly greater than, the distance between corresponding adjacent pedicles in said area to be retracted, and said retractor body having two elongated channels; b. a pair of pedicle screws for attachment to each of said correspondingly adjacent pedicles, and a pair of guide members in polyaxial engagement with a respective pedicle screw so that the guide members in polyaxial engagement with a respective pedicle screw so that the guide member has a range of movement defining a cone with respect to the longitudinal axis of said screw, each of said guide members having sufficient length to permit it to pass through a corresponding channel in the retractor body, and each guide member having an associated attachment member for use in urging the retractor body down onto the end of the associated pedicle screw; and c. said retractor body having a living hinge that allows movement from the closed position to the open position while fully enclosing said working area when in the open position, the perimeter of said retractor body being substantially the same in both the closed and the open positions.