Endoscopic surgical systems and methods

A method of viewing a surgical site within a patient comprising the steps of:

• placing an access portal inside a patient, the access portal defining a working channel;
• securing a viewing device to the access portal,
• rotating the viewing device about a central axis of the access portal to position the viewing device to view the surgical site,
• wherein the step of placing the access portal includes the step of mating an adaptor having at least one projection corresponding to at least one opening in the access portal,
• wherein the step of mating the adaptor to the access portal including the step of placing the at least one projection of the adaptor in the at least one opening of a first flange of the access portal, wherein the access portal include the first and a second flange spaced apart from one another to define a channel, and
• moving the at least one projection of the adaptor within the channel between the first and second flanges of the access portal to rotate the adaptor about the central axis of the working channel.

A method of viewing a spinal site during a surgical procedure using an access system comprising the steps of:

• dilating a patient's skin and tissue with one or more dilators to create an access path to a spinal site;
• placing an access portal of the access system over the one or more dilators, the access portal defining a working channel with a central axis and having at least one opening;
• securing a viewing device to the access portal;
• and
• rotating the viewing device about a central axis of the access portal to position the viewing device to view the spinal site,
• wherein the step of placing the access portal includes the step of mating an adaptor having at least one projection corresponding to at least one opening in the access portal,
• wherein the step of mating the adaptor to the access portal including the step of placing the at least one projection of the adaptor in the at least one opening of a first flange of the access portal, wherein the access portal include the first and a second flange spaced apart from one another to define a channel
• wherein the step of securing a viewing device to the access portal includes a step placing a mounting portion of the viewing device in a first aperture of a holder of the adaptor, wherein the holder extends proximally above a proximal end of the access portal and includes a first aperture with an axis that is aligned with the working channel of the access portal, the first aperture being configured to receive the mounting portion of the viewing device.