A minimally invasive dilation device includes a stylus, a plurality of rigid arms radially arrayed about the stylus, and a dilating member positioned between the stylus and the arms. An outer flexible sleeve may be circumferentially secured to the arms, lying within or without the plurality of arms. An inner mesh may surround the stylus and dilating member. The device may be introduced into tissue toward a targeted area, while in a closed configuration. The dilating member may be a balloon or a cannula. During dilation, the arms are pushed radially outward, expanding the device and dilating the surrounding tissue. A cannula may be inserted inside the plurality of arms to keep the arms in an open configuration, and the stylus and inner mesh may be withdrawn, providing an open passageway through the device to the targeted area. The device may be used with a neural monitoring system.
