Patent ID: 8523767

Claim:
A retractor assembly for percutaneous surgery in a patient, comprising: a first retractor portion including a first elongate body extending between a proximal end and an opposite distal end, said first elongate body further including a first sidewall extending between said proximal and distal ends of said first retractor portion; a second retractor portion including a second elongate body extending between a proximal end and an opposite distal end, said second elongate body further including a second sidewall extending between said proximal and distal ends of said second retractor portion, wherein said first and second retractor portions define a working channel therebetween and are movable away from one another to adjust a size of said working channel; and an add-on retractor element including a flexible body member extending partially around said first and second sidewalls, wherein said body member of said add-on retractor element spans a gap between said first and second retractor portions as said first and second retractor portions are moved away from one another to increase said size of said working channel, wherein said body member of said add-on retractor element is elongated and extends between a distal end and an opposite proximal end, said body member further including opposite sides extending from said distal end to said proximal end, wherein said opposite sides define a first width of said body member at said distal end of said body member and a second width of said body member at said proximal end of said body member, and said first width is greater than said second width.