Patent ID: 8267952

Claim:
A surgical access device comprising: a tissue separating obturator comprising: a hollow elongate shaft extending between an open proximal end and closed, tapered distal end along a longitudinal axis and defining a first lumen; the closed, tapered distal end is transparent and includes and an inner surface and an outer surface; the outer surface of the tapered, closed distal end is adapted for penetrating tissue; and extends distally to a point; and the inner surface forms a hollow chamber at the tapered, closed distal end; wherein the first lumen is sized and configured to receive an optical instrument having a distal end adapted to receive an image and the tapered, closed distal end is adapted to permit passage of an image; wherein further including a cannula comprising an elongate shaft extending along a longitudinal axis and defining a second lumen between an open proximal end and an open distal end; the cannula having a distal edge and configured to receive the obturator inside the second lumen and to connect to the obturator; wherein the tip portion includes a ledge at the inner surface of the tip portion; the ledge being located beyond the distal edge of the cannula when the obturator is disposed within the second lumen and connected to the cannula; wherein when the optical instrument is disposed inside the first lumen such that the distal end of the optical instrument engages the ledge, the distal end of the optical instrument extends beyond the distal edge of the cannula.