Patent ID: 8002786

Claim:
A seal assembly for permitting hand assisted laparoscopic procedures, comprising: a seal cap including a seal positioned within a housing, the housing including a lower seal ring having a track which supports an upper seal ring for relative rotational motion, wherein the seal is constructed in the shape of a cylindrical section, the seal includes an upper section and a lower section with a central section therebetween, the upper section of the seal is coupled to the upper seal ring and the lower section of the seal is coupled to the lower seal ring, the seal being supported between the upper seal ring and the lower seal ring for rotation between an open orientation and a closed orientation; a ratchet mechanism controlling motion of the upper seal ring relative to the lower seal ring, the ratchet mechanism includes a deflection feature and a series of gear teeth, wherein the series of gear teeth are oriented to engage the deflection feature; and wherein the deflection feature is a spring fastener and the spring fastener is a flat spring having a first end rigidly secured to one of the lower seal ring or the upper seal ring and a second end rigidly secured to one of the lower seal ring or the upper seal ring.