Device, system and surgical method for achieving surgical access to a site within the body, and in particular to the spine. The system is independently operable at their proximal ends to manipulate soft tissue at their distal ends and is adjustably and releasably coupled to form an open channel to the target tissue A module retractor comprising a body and a hood to be obtained. Upon insertion, the hood is at least partially compressed against the retractor body. When combined, these retractors are displaced from one another and are constrained at one degree of freedom or more of at least three degrees of freedom, and in order to adjust the displacement of the retractor at their distal end, Being movable pivotally about the pivot axis of the proximal end which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and being vertically displaceable to adjust the distance between the retractors at their proximal end And is slidable horizontally along the axis of the channel.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
