Patent ID: 7985237

Claim:
An apparatus for providing access to a spinal location within a patient, comprising: an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a length between the proximal and distal ends such that the proximal end can be positioned outside the patient and the distal end can be positioned inside the patient adjacent the spinal location, said elongate body having an outer surface and an inner surface, said inner surface defining an access path, said elongate body being expandable from a contracted configuration to an expanded configuration, wherein the cross-sectional area of said body at a first location is greater than the cross-sectional area of said body at a second location in the expanded configuration, wherein the first location is distal to the second location; an arcuate slot having an elongate length, a first end and a second end along which a portion of the elongate body is moveable from its contracted condition to its expanded condition, the arcuate slot extending generally in the direction of expansion between the contracted and expanded conditions; and a guide member movable within the arcuate slot, the guide member moving along the arcuate slot as the elongate body moves from its contracted condition to its expanded condition, wherein the access path is sized such that more than one surgical instrument can be advanced simultaneously along the access path between the proximal end and the spinal location.