An expandable surgical retractor for minimally invasive surgical applications isdisclosed. The expandable retractor, preferably in the form of an inflatable balloonretractor, is. inserted in a surgical corridor and expanded to the desired sizeand shape. The retractor of the present invention is amenable to many shapes includingcylindrical, conical with the base at the. depth of the corridor, hourglass, andcrescent and are dictated by the surgeon's needs. Cooling of the retractor allowsthe retractor to maintain the expanded characteristic. The expanded relativelyrigid retractor provides an ideal corridor for surgical applications. In a preferredembodiment, a • second retractor, of the invention, can be placed at agreater depth through the first placed retractor； the "telescoping" effectrapidly provides greater exposure with minimal manipulation. Following surgery,such retractor(s) can be removed in a manner that minimizes bleeding and tissuedamage. One such method is reheating to soften and restore the retractor to itsunexpanded size. Or, laterally placed perforations allow for fracturing ofthe retractor by bo vie cautery, facilitating removal by "unzipping" theretractor.
