Patent ID: 8449463

Claim:
A method of accessing the spine, the method comprising: providing a surgical access system including: a retractor device having: a first support; a second support movable between a first position adjacent the first support and a second position spaced apart from the first support; and first and second retractor blades releasably coupled to the first and second supports, respectively, the first and second retractor blades assuming a position in close approximation when the first and second supports are in the first position, and a second, open position when the first and second supports assume the second position spaced apart from each other; establishing an initial path to the spine; introducing the retractor through tissue along the initial path to the spine in a first orientation such that the retractor blades are aligned with fibers of psoas muscle, the retractor being inserted with the first and second supports in the first position with the retractor blades in close approximation; rotating the retractor until the retractor blades are in line with endplates of vertebrae; moving the first and second supports to the second, spaced apart position such that the retractor blades are spaced apart from one another to retract tissue and create an operative channel to the spine; performing surgery through the operative channel.