Patent ID: 7699877

Claim:
A method for providing a fixation treatment at or near the spine of patient, the method comprising: providing a first elongate body having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer surface and an inner surface, said inner surface defining a path extending through the elongate body and through which surgical instruments can be inserted to a spinal location, the path extending along a longitudinal axis; making a single incision in the patient over the spinal location; inserting said distal end of said first elongate body through the single incision in the patient and positioning the distal end proximate the spinal location, the proximal end remaining outside the patient; expanding the first elongate body such that the distal end permits visualization of first and second adjacent vertebrae at the spinal location; inserting a first fastener through the first elongate body to the spinal location; coupling the first fastener with the first vertebra; inserting a second fastener through the first elongate body to the spinal location; coupling the second fastener with the second vertebra; inserting an elongate member into the first elongate body to the spinal location along the longitudinal axis; and coupling the elongate member with the first and second fasteners along an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis to fix the first and second vertebrae; wherein the first fastener, the second fastener and the elongate member are all inserted through the first elongate body and are coupled together through the first elongate body without removing the elongate body from the patient.