Patent ID: 8092430

Claim:
A surgical access apparatus, which comprises: an access member defining a longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal passageway for reception and passage of a surgical object; and an access housing including a diaphragm having proximal and distal surfaces, the diaphragm being positioned within the access housing and mounted to the access housing such that the proximal surface of the diaphragm is fixedly positioned along the longitudinal axis, whereby the proximal surface of the diaphragm remains in a substantially constant location along the longitudinal axis during use of the surgical access apparatus, the diaphragm being adapted for rotational movement about the longitudinal axis relative to the access housing, the diaphragm defining at least one internal pocket, and having a seal assembly disposed within the internal pocket, the seal assembly having an interface seal member adapted for establishing a fluid tight seal about the surgical object, the seal assembly and the at least one internal pocket including corresponding structure in cooperative engagement to facilitate selective movement of the seal assembly within the pocket about multiple axes in response to manipulation of the surgical object.