Patent ID: 8277486

Claim:
A system for performing a fixation procedure at or near the spine of a patient, said system comprising: an access device adapted to define a passage from a location outside of the patient to a location at or near the spine of the patient, the access device being at least partially actuatable between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the passage of the access device in the second configuration has a cross-sectional area at a first location that is greater than the cross-sectional area of said passage at a second location, wherein the first location is distal to the second location; and a vertebral fixation assembly configured to fix two adjacent vertebrae, the vertebral fixation assembly adapted to be delivered through the passage of the access device, the vertebral fixation assembly comprising a plurality of vertebral screws and a fastener adapted to engage each of the vertebral screws; wherein the cross-sectional area at the first location is sized to permit visualization of two or more screws fixed to at least two adjacent vertebrae; wherein the access device is adapted to be actuated from the first configuration to the second configuration with an application of force to an inner surface of the passage, the access device adapted to remain in the second configuration upon removal of said force.