A surgical access device facilitating a sealing relationship with an instrument extending through the device and a body wall of a patient, the access device comprising: a valve structure disposed in a sealing relationship with the body wall, the valve structure comprising: a valve having a first state in the absence of an instrument extending through the valve structure, and a second state in the presence of an instrument extending through the valve structure; the valve in the first state forming a zero seal in the absence of the instrument extending through the valve structure; the valve in the second state forming a seal with the instrument in the presence of the instrument extending through the access device, the valve structure comprising a base and a gel cap the gel cap comprising a gel pad forming the valve and a cap ring surrounding the gel pad; and a wound retractor having an inner ring arranged to be disposed within a body cavity, an outer ring arranged to be disposed outside a body cavity and a flexible sleeve extending between the inner ring and the outer ring to define a working channel through a body wall of a patient, the retractor being positioned next to the valve structure and the outer ring of the retractor operatively held by the cap ring and the base; and a protective shield positioned under gel pad that operates to protect the retractor and characterized in that the protective shield comprises a plurality of axially extending sleeve members and a plurality of-axial slits. a valve structure disposed in a sealing relationship with the body wall, the valve structure comprising: a valve having a first state in the absence of an instrument extending through the valve structure, and a second state in the presence of an instrument extending through the valve structure; the valve in the first state forming a zero seal in the absence of the instrument extending through the valve structure; the valve in the second state forming a seal with the instrument in the presence of the instrument extending through the access device, the valve structure comprising a base and a gel cap the gel cap comprising a gel pad forming the valve and a cap ring surrounding the gel pad; and a valve having a first state in the absence of an instrument extending through the valve structure, and a second state in the presence of an instrument extending through the valve structure; the valve in the first state forming a zero seal in the absence of the instrument extending through the valve structure; the valve in the second state forming a seal with the instrument in the presence of the instrument extending through the access device, the valve structure comprising a base and a gel cap the gel cap comprising a gel pad forming the valve and a cap ring surrounding the gel pad; and a wound retractor having an inner ring arranged to be disposed within a body cavity, an outer ring arranged to be disposed outside a body cavity and a flexible sleeve extending between the inner ring and the outer ring to define a working channel through a body wall of a patient, the retractor being positioned next to the valve structure and the outer ring of the retractor operatively held by the cap ring and the base; and a protective shield positioned under gel pad that operates to protect the retractor and characterized in that the protective shield comprises a plurality of axially extending sleeve members and a plurality of-axial slits.