Patent ID: 8795235

Claim:
A method of performing a laparoscopic surgical procedure through a single incision, comprising the steps of: a) creating a single incision through the abdominal wall of a patient to gain access to the patient's abdominal cavity; b) providing an insertion device having a handle assembly with pivotable latching arms moveable between open and closed positions and an elongated trocar shaft; c) providing a plurality of access ports each having a housing and an elongated body, wherein the housing of each access port includes a flange and the elongated body of each access port includes a telescopic tube assembly surrounded by an elastomeric sheath, wherein the tube assembly includes an outer tube fixed to the housing and an inner tube fixed to the sheath; d) sequentially mounting each access port to the insertion device by: i) extending the trocar shaft into the elongated body to elongate the telescopic tube assembly and thereby stretch and reduce the profile of the elastomeric sheath; and ii) engaging the flange of the housing with the pivotable latching arms of the handle assembly to releasably secure the elastomeric sheath in a stretched condition; e) sequentially inserting the elongated body of each access port through the incision and into the abdominal cavity of the patient, while the elastomeric sheath is in the stretched condition; and f) sequentially disengaging the housing of each access port from the handle assembly to allow the elastomeric sheath to return to an unstretched condition within the incision.