Patent ID: 7892249

Claim:
A device for providing access to a spinal location within a patient, said device comprising: an elongate body having a proximal portion pivotally connected to a distal portion and defining a length therebetween such that when the distal portion is positioned inside the patient adjacent the spinal location, at least part of the proximal portion extends outside the patient, wherein the distal portion includes a slot and a guide member disposed in the slot and moveable within the slot, wherein movement of the guide member along the slot results in expansion or contraction of at least part of the distal portion, wherein the guide member is an expansion limiter, preventing the distal portion from expanding beyond a predetermined limit; and an expander comprising a first pivoting member configured to engage a first side of the elongate body and a second pivoting member configured to engage a second side of the elongate body, the second side being opposite the first side, the expander configured to move the guide member along the slot, thereby expanding the elongate body such that a transverse dimension extending between the first and second sides of the elongate body at a first location is greater than a transverse dimension extending between the first and second sides of the elongate body at a second location, wherein the first location is distal to the second location; wherein the elongate body provides an access path to the spinal location between the first and second sides, the access path sized such that more than one surgical instrument can be advanced simultaneously along the access path between a proximal end and the spinal location.