Patent ID: 8409091

Claim:
A method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a retractor comprising: (i) a first blade assembly comprising a first blade rotatable about a first axis, a second blade rotatable about said first axis and a first adjuster in mechanical communication with the first and second blades and adapted to rotate the first and second blades relative to each other about said first axis; (ii) a second blade assembly comprising at least a third blade rotatable about a second axis a second adjuster in mechanical communication with the at least a third blade and adapted to rotate the at least a third blade about said second axis wherein said second axis is different from said first axis; and (iii) an actuator, wherein activation of the actuator moves said first blade assembly relative to said second blade assembly along a third axis that is not parallel to said first and second axes; (b) adjusting the first and second blades of the first blade assembly to be substantially parallel to each other to form a first closed blade assembly; (c) adjusting the third blade of the second blade assembly to be substantially parallel to the first and second blades of the first blade assembly; (d) making an incision in a tissue of a body; (e) inserting said first blade assembly and said second blade assembly within the incision; (f) moving the first blade assembly away from the second blade assembly along said third axis and along the length of the incision so that the incision is stretched to create an opening longer than the incision; and (g) adjusting the first and second blades of the first blade assembly about said first axis to an open position, and adjusting the at least a third blade of the second blade assembly substantially about said second axis to an open position, thereby stretching the incision out from said third axis and creating an aperture in the tissue that is longer and wider than an aperture created by inserting the retractor in the incision with the first and second blade assemblies in the closed position and before activating the actuator.