Patent ID: 9271639
Filing Date: 2016-03-01
CPC Classification: A61B

Claim Text:
1. A surgical apparatus for permitting access to tissue, which comprises: an elongated introducer including a retractor segment and an outer wall segment defining a longitudinal axis and a longitudinal port passage extending therethrough, the outer wall segment having a longitudinal slot in communication with the port passage, the elongated introducer dimensioned for at least partial introduction within an opening in the tissue, the retractor segment disposed distal of the outer wall segment, the retractor segment extending radially outward from a distal end of the outer wall segment to retract the opening in the tissue; and a surgical port including a port body having leading and trailing ends, an intermediate segment disposed between the leading and trailing ends, and at least one passageway for reception and passage of a surgical instrument, the port body movable along the entire elongated introducer with one of the leading or trailing ends disposed within the port passage and with the intermediate segment extending through the longitudinal slot, the other one of the leading or trailing ends external to the elongated introducer when the one of the leading or trailing ends is advanced along the entire port passage of the elongated introducer, the port body dimensioned to be advanced within the port passage for deployment through the opening in the tissue as generally directed by the elongated introducer, the port body comprising a compressible material adapted to transition from a compressed state when mounted to the elongated introducer to a released state when deployed from the elongated introducer.