Patent ID: 8343047

Claim:
A surgical access port adapted for performing laparoscopic surgical procedures at a single access site wherein an incision is made in the abdominal wall of a patient and the abdominal cavity is pressurized with an insufflation gas, the access port adapted to provide access to the abdominal cavity for surgical procedures while maintaining insufflation pressure in the abdominal cavity, the surgical access port comprising: an adjustable wound retractor comprising: a proximal ring, wherein the proximal ring is configured to be disposed proximate the outer surface of the abdominal wall of the patient and substantially surround the incision; a retraction sheath comprising a tubular wall, a proximal portion coupled to the proximal ring during use, and a distal portion, wherein the retraction sheath is configured to be disposed through the incision and line the incision, and wherein the retraction sheath is adjustable to retract the incision; and a distal ring coupled to the distal portion of the retraction sheath, wherein the distal ring is configured to be disposed proximate the inner surface of the abdominal wall and substantially surround the incision; and a gel cap configured to be coupled to the proximal ring, comprising: a cap ring, wherein the cap ring is configured to substantially surround the incision; a gel pad disposed within the cap ring; and a plurality of sealing valves operatively attached to the gel pad, wherein the plurality of sealing valves have a low profile with an upper surface of each of the plurality of sealing valves being disposed below or flushed with an upper surface of the gel pad, the upper surface of the gel pad being a single planar surface, wherein the plurality of sealing valves at least partially form a plurality of access channels through the gel pad, and wherein the plurality of sealing valves are configured to form seals with instruments extending through the sealing valves and form seals in the absence of any instruments extending through the sealing valves and the sealing valves are made of a material different from the gel pad.