Patent ID: 8070676

Claim:
A surgical access device adapted for performing laparoscopic surgical procedures with at least one instrument passing through the surgical access device and through an incision in the abdominal wall of a patient with the abdominal cavity pressurized with an insufflation gas, the surgical access device adapted to provide instrument access to the abdominal cavity for surgical procedures while maintaining insufflation pressure in the abdominal cavity, the surgical access device comprising: an access seal, the access seal comprising an ultra gel material formed of a mixture comprising a triblock copolymer and an oil, wherein the access seal is adapted to be disposed relative to the abdominal wall in an operative position, and wherein the material of the access seal is adapted to form a seal to maintain insufflation pressure within the abdominal cavity; and at least one opening formed through the material of the access seal between a proximal portion and a distal portion of the access seal, wherein the at least one opening when operatively disposed is in communication with the incision and forms a working channel between a location external to the abdominal wall and a location internal to the abdominal wall, wherein the material of the access seal is adapted to conform to a surface of an instrument inserted through the working channel, wherein the instrument has a diameter within a range of instrument diameters from the size of a guidewire to the size of a surgeon's hand, and wherein the working channel is configured to self seal in the absence of any instruments extending through the at least one opening.