Patent ID: 8137284

Claim:
A method of accessing a spinal target site via a lateral, trans-psoas surgical approach, comprising the steps of: establishing a distraction corridor via a lateral, trans-psoas surgical approach to said spinal target site with a distraction assembly prior to the introduction of a first retractor blade; affixing said first retractor blade introduced to said spinal target site via said lateral, trans-psoas approach such that said first retractor blade forms a posterior border of an operative corridor along said lateral, trans-psoas surgical approach to said spinal target site and is fixed relative to said spinal target site, wherein affixing said first retractor blade is accomplished with a fixation element removably engaged with said first retractor blade after said first retractor blade is introduced to said spinal target site and such that a distal tip of said fixation element extends past said first retractor blade and penetrates into the spinal target site; and moving a second retractor blade introduced to said spinal target site via said lateral, trans-psoas approach relative to said affixed first retractor blade such that said operative corridor is established between said first and second retractor blades to said spinal target site.