Patent ID: 7621916

Claim:
A spinal guide system, comprising: a guide device having an elongate tubular member with proximal and distal ends, the distal end including a positioning element adapted to engage a portion of a vertebra to position the elongate tubular member relative to the vertebra, and a retractor guide having first and second arms extending radially outward from the distal end of the elongate tubular member on a side of the elongate tubular member opposite the positioning element and having a cross member extending between the first and second arms such that the first and second arms and the cross member defines a pathway extending therethrough and adapted to guide a retractor to pass therethrough to retract tissue adjacent to the distal end of the elongate tubular member; a sleeve adapted to be positioned relative to and advanced beyond the distal end of the tubular member of the guide device; and a retractor having a proximal end that is adapted to engage the elongate tubular member of the guide device, and a distal end that is adapted to be inserted through the retractor guide to retract tissue.