Patent ID: 8021337

Claim:
A surgical portal which comprises: an elongate portal member dimensioned to access tissue to provide access to an underlying tissue site, the elongate portal member defining proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal axis, the elongate portal member defining an axial lumen adapted for reception of a surgical object, the elongate portal member including at least one radially deformable portion comprising a shape memory material and having an undulating configuration with sections extending in opposite directions relative to the longitudinal axis, and positioned in adjacent relation along the longitudinal axis, the at least one radially deformable portion adapted to move from an initial condition, wherein the at least one radially deformable portion has a first radial dimension and the adjacent sections are out of alignment with the longitudinal axis, to an activated condition, wherein the at least one radially deformable portion has a second radial dimension different from the first radial dimension and the adjacent sections are in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis, whereby an overall axial length of the elongate portal member remains substantially constant during movement of the at least one radially deformable portion from the initial condition to the activated condition, the at least one radially deformable portion being moved from the initial condition to the activated condition upon exposure to an external stimulus.