A surgical access system comprising: 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 having an inner surface and being disposed at the distal end of the shaft, the tip comprising a tapered portion, at least one vent hole disposed on the tapered portion of the tip, and a handle disposed at the proximal end of the shaft; a fluid inlet disposed at a proximal end of the access system; and a laparoscope; 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 the laparoscope into the obturator shaft, and an interior 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 by the obturator being configured to slidably receive the inserted laparoscope into the tubular shaft of the obturator and extending into the tapered portion of the tip such that the inner surface of the tip abuts the outer surface of the inserted laparoscope while still defining an insufflation gas flow channel between the inner surface of the tip and an outer surface of the inserted laparoscope. 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 having an inner surface and being disposed at the distal end of the shaft, the tip comprising a tapered portion, at least one vent hole disposed on the tapered portion of the tip, and a handle disposed at the proximal end of the shaft; a fluid inlet disposed at a proximal end of the access system; and a laparoscope; 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 the laparoscope into the obturator shaft, and an interior 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 the laparoscope into the obturator shaft, and an interior 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 by the obturator being configured to slidably receive the inserted laparoscope into the tubular shaft of the obturator and extending into the tapered portion of the tip such that the inner surface of the tip abuts the outer surface of the inserted laparoscope while still defining an insufflation gas flow channel between the inner surface of the tip and an outer surface of the inserted laparoscope.