Patent ID: 7294103

Claim:
A method of surgical access comprising: making an intercostal incision in a patient's thorax; positioning a surgical retractor comprising an inflatable ring-shaped member in the intercostal incision; engaging a first rib adjacent to the intercostal incision with a first concave surface on an outer surface of the inflatable ring-shaped member; engaging a second adjoining rib adjacent to the intercostal incision with a second concave surface on the outer surface of the inflatable ring-shaped member; inflating the inflatable ring-shaped member to open up an inner opening for surgical access through the surgical retractor and to separate the first rib and the second rib sufficiently to allow surgical access through the intercostal incision via the inner opening of the surgical retractor; and supporting the inflatable ring-shaped member with a plurality of substantially rigid retractor blades positioned within the inner opening of the inflatable ring-shaped member.