Surgical access system with navigation element and method of using same

A surgical access assembly for creating an operative pathway through body tissue, comprising

• an outer sheath defined by an open distal end and an open proximal end and including a hollow body portion therebetween, wherein the outer sheath further comprises a tapered portion positioned between the body portion and the open distal end;
• an obturator defined by a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end further comprises a tapered distal tip member that terminates in a closed distal tip for atraumatically dilating tissue;
• and
• a navigational element operatively connected to the outer sheath and a navigation system, wherein the navigational element is configured to indicate the location of the outer sheath within a patient during use;
• wherein the obturator received within the outer sheath when in an introducing configuration such that the tapered distal tip member protrudes from the open distal end of the outer sheath, with a transition between the tapered portion and the tapered distal tip cooperating to form an atraumatic assembly distal end.