Patent ID: 8118735
Filing Date: 2012-02-21
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A seal assembly for permitting hand assisted laparoscopic procedures, comprising: a seal cap including a seal positioned within a housing, the housing including a lower seal ring having a track which supports an upper seal ring for relative rotational motion, wherein the seal includes an upper end coupled to the upper seal ring and a lower end coupled to the lower seal ring wherein the seal is supported between the upper seal ring and the lower seal ring for rotation between an open orientation and a closed orientation; the upper seal ring including a first ring member to which the upper end of the seal is directly coupled and a second ring member oriented for movement relative thereto, wherein a latching mechanism is positioned between the first ring member and the second ring member for selectively controlling movement of the first ring member relative to the second ring member by moving between a locked orientation where the first ring member and the second ring member move in unison and an unlocked orientation where the first ring member and the second ring member may move freely relative to each other; a rotational control mechanism controlling motion of the upper seal ring relative to the lower seal ring; wherein when the latch mechanism is in its unlocked orientation, the first ring member, to which the upper end of the iris seal is coupled, is free to rotate without the rotational control mechanism controlling movement of the first ring member relative to the lower seal ring.