Patent ID: 7494489

Claim:
A system that facilitates minimally invasive spine surgery, comprising: sequential cannulated dilators that create a portal along a working axis; a hinged retractor placed over the cannulated dilators that increases a field of vision, the hinged retractor comprising: an upper cylinder that has a proximal end and a distal end and a first and second handle operatively connected to the proximal end, the first handle facilitates an angled expansion and the second handle facilitates symmetric expansion; a lower cylinder that has a proximal end and a distal end and a handle operatively connected to the proximal end; and two hinges operatively connected to the proximal end of the upper cylinder that facilitate expansion of the upper cylinder and the lower cylinder; preparation instruments that include a targeted guide with a laser attached to a fluoroscope, the preparation instruments create a path along the working axis; at least one anchor device; guidance instruments that selectively insert the at least one anchor device within the spine along the working axis; and a transconnecting tower that has an upper level fitted with alignment holes that include at least one rod-guidance entry funnel and at least one alignment guide hole and a lower level that includes rod-guidance entry funnels, the upper level accommodates a connecting rod and the lower level accommodates a spinal rod.