Patent ID: 7144393
Filing Date: 2006-12-05
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A structure for receiving surgical instruments for performing a surgical procedure on a body, said structure comprising: a portion defining a passage through which the surgical instruments are inserted into the body, said passage having a proximal end and a distal end; an expandable portion for enabling an increase in a cross-sectional area of said distal end of said passage; said expandable portion having a contracted condition in which the cross-sectional area of said distal end of said passage has a first cross-sectional area, said expandable portion having an expanded condition in which said distal end of said passage has a second cross-sectional area greater than said first cross-sectional area, and said second cross-sectional area being greater than a cross-sectional area of said proximal end of said passage when said expandable portion is in said expanded condition; and a retaining mechanism for resisting movement of said expandable portion from said expanded condition toward said contracted condition, said retaining mechanism comprising an edge extending at least partially between an outer surface and an inner surface of the expandable portion, said edge of said retaining mechanism being generally transverse to said outer and inner surfaces of the expandable portion, said edge of said retaining mechanism increasing resistance to movement of the expandable portion from said expanded condition toward said contracted condition, when the expandable portion is in said expanded condition, by interlocking with an edge of the expandable portion.