A surgical access system comprising: a laparascope; a tubular trocar comprising a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, a distal end, an elongate cannula, and a seal assembly disposed at a proximal end of the cannula; an insufflating obturator slidably insertable into the trocar, the obturator comprising a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, a distal end, a tubular shaft, a tip comprising a taper portion; the tip having an inner surface that defines an inner contour and an outer surface that defines an outer contour; the tip being disposed at the distal end of the shaft, at least one vent hole disposed on the tip, and a handle disposed at the proximal end of the shaft; and a fluid inlet disposed at a proximal end of the access system, wherein at least a portion of the obturator tip comprises a wall comprising a transparent material with a substantially uniform thickness, the obturator slidably receives a laparoscope into the obturator shaft, the laparoscope having a longitudinal axis, a distal end, and a transverse cross section at the distal end that is circular in shape; and the inner surface of the obturator shaft and tip, and an outer surface of an inserted laparoscope together define a insufflation gas flow channel fluidly connecting the at least one vent hole to the fluid inlet; characterized in that the laparoscope inserted into the tubular shaft of the obturator extends into the tapered portion of the tip such that the distal end of the laparoscope is configured to contact the inner surface of the tip at a portion of the tip that has a transverse cross-section of the tip that is non-circular in shape defining an insufflation gas flow channel between the inner surface of the tip and an outer surface of the inserted laparoscope. a laparascope; a tubular trocar comprising a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, a distal end, an elongate cannula, and a seal assembly disposed at a proximal end of the cannula; an insufflating obturator slidably insertable into the trocar, the obturator comprising a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, a distal end, a tubular shaft, a tip comprising a taper portion; the tip having an inner surface that defines an inner contour and an outer surface that defines an outer contour; the tip being disposed at the distal end of the shaft, at least one vent hole disposed on the tip, and a handle disposed at the proximal end of the shaft; and a fluid inlet disposed at a proximal end of the access system, wherein at least a portion of the obturator tip comprises a wall comprising a transparent material with a substantially uniform thickness, the obturator slidably receives a laparoscope into the obturator shaft, the laparoscope having a longitudinal axis, a distal end, and a transverse cross section at the distal end that is circular in shape; and the inner surface of the obturator shaft and tip, and an outer surface of an inserted laparoscope together define a insufflation gas flow channel fluidly connecting the at least one vent hole to the fluid inlet; at least a portion of the obturator tip comprises a wall comprising a transparent material with a substantially uniform thickness, the obturator slidably receives a laparoscope into the obturator shaft, the laparoscope having a longitudinal axis, a distal end, and a transverse cross section at the distal end that is circular in shape; and the inner surface of the obturator shaft and tip, and an outer surface of an inserted laparoscope together define a insufflation gas flow channel fluidly connecting the at least one vent hole to the fluid inlet; characterized in that the laparoscope inserted into the tubular shaft of the obturator extends into the tapered portion of the tip such that the distal end of the laparoscope is configured to contact the inner surface of the tip at a portion of the tip that has a transverse cross-section of the tip that is non-circular in shape defining an insufflation gas flow channel between the inner surface of the tip and an outer surface of the inserted laparoscope.