Patent ID: 7608082

Claim:
A seal assembly for use with a surgical access apparatus, which comprises: a housing defining a longitudinal axis and having a passageway dimensioned to permit passage of an object, the housing adapted for mounting to a surgical access apparatus and having internal wall portions; a seal being mounted within the housing, the seal including an outer annular support collar and an inner seal portion, the inner seal portion adapted to form a substantial sealing relation with the object, the seal being mounted for reciprocal movement in a general transverse direction to the longitudinal axis, the support collar and internal wall portions of the housing defining an internal chamber therebetween; and a viscous fluid within the internal chamber externally of, and surrounding, the seal and in contact with the internal wall portions, the viscous fluid cooperating with the internal wall portions to form a substantial seal between the seal and the housing; wherein the outer annular support collar of the seal and the internal wall portions of the housing define at least one gap therebetween to permit seepage of the fluid from the internal chamber into the passageway.