Surgical access system with navigation element and method of using same

1. 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.

2. The surgical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the navigational element is permanently attached to a portion of the outer sheath.

3. The surgical assembly of claim 2 , wherein the navigational element is impregnated or molded into the body portion of the outer sheath.

4. The surgical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer sheath includes at least one channel formed in the body portion and wherein the at least one channel is configured to selectively receive the navigational element therein.

5. The surgical assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an illumination ring that is configured to be selectively connected to the proximal end of the outer sheath, wherein the navigational element is mounted on the illumination ring such that when the illumination ring is connected to the outer sheath, the navigation system is configured to track the location of the outer sheath so as to indicate the position of the outer sheath with respect to a patient's anatomy.

6. The surgical assembly of claim 5 , wherein the illumination ring further comprises a plurality of outwardly extending flange members positioned on a periphery of a wall member of the illumination ring, and wherein the navigational element includes a plurality of reflective balls that serve as position indicators, wherein one of the reflective balls are mounted to each flange member.

7. The surgical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the distal tip is configured as a closed radiused distal tip.

8. The surgical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer sheath further comprises a grip ring positioned at least partially around the open proximal end thereof, and wherein the navigational element is mounted to the grip ring.

9. The surgical assembly of claim 8 , wherein the navigational element further comprises a plurality of reflective members positioned thereon, wherein the reflective members are configured to cooperate with the navigation system.

10. The surgical assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a support ring that is configured to be operatively mounted to the outer sheath, wherein the navigational element is mounted to the support ring such that when the support ring is connected to the outer sheath, the navigation system is configured to track the location of the outer sheath so as to indicate the position of the outer sheath with respect to a patient's anatomy.

11. The surgical assembly of claim 10 , wherein the navigational element further comprises a plurality of reflective members configured to cooperate with the navigation system.

12. The surgical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer sheath is non-expanding.