Patent ID: 7918792

Claim:
A method of accessing anatomy proximate to a first vertebra and a second vertebra, the method comprising: positioning a first bone anchor in a first vertebra; positioning a second bone anchor in a second vertebra; connecting a first anchor extension to the first bone anchor, the first anchor extension extending from the first bone anchor toward the skin; connecting a second anchor extension to the second bone anchor, the second anchor extension extending from the second bone anchor toward the skin positioning a retractor between the first anchor extension and the second anchor extension to provide access to spinal anatomy proximate to the first vertebra and the second vertebra, the retractor having a frame including a first segment and a second segment, the first segment including an arcuate notch at a first end of the frame, the second segment including an arcuate notch at a second end of the frame opposite the first end of the frame, the frame further including a first intermediate segment interposed between the first segment and the second segment and a second intermediate segment interposed between the first segment and the second segment, the first intermediate segment positioned opposite the second intermediate segment, positioning the retractor comprising, positioning the first anchor extension in the first arcuate notch, positioning the second anchor extension in the second arcuate notch, the first segment and the second segment of the frame being positioned between the first anchor extension and the second anchor extension, connecting a first retractor blade to the first intermediate segment, and connecting a second retractor blade to the second intermediate segment, positioning the first end of a stabilizing element in the first anchor extension, rotating the first end of the stabilizing element from the first anchor extension beneath the skin to at least one of the second anchor extension and the second bone anchor, and connecting the stabilizing element to the first bone anchor and the second bone anchor.