Patent ID: 7470255
Filing Date: 2008-12-30
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. A surgical access apparatus, which comprises: an access member dimensioned for insertion within tissue, the access member having proximal and distal ends and defining a longitudinal axis, and having a longitudinal opening to permit introduction of a surgical object through the access member to perform a procedure on underlying tissue; and a seal member mounted across the longitudinal opening of the access member and having an internal portion defining an aperture for forming a substantial seal about the surgical object introduced through the longitudinal opening of the access member, the seal member including a first seal portion extending from the internal portion in a general proximal longitudinal direction and being mounted in suspended relation to the access member, and a second seal portion connected to the first seal portion by the internal portion such that the second seal portion extends from the internal portion in a general proximal longitudinal direction and is disposed radially outward of the first seal portion, and wherein a proximal end of the first seal portion is configured to move distally in response to distal advancement of the surgical object inserted therethrough.