Patent ID: 8016755

Claim:
A surgical access device adapted for performing laparoscopic surgical procedures with at least one instrument passing through the surgical access device and through a single incision in the abdominal wall of a patient with the abdominal cavity pressurized with an insufflation gas, the surgical access device adapted to provide instrument access to the abdominal cavity for surgical procedures while generally maintaining insufflation pressure in the abdominal cavity, the surgical access device comprising: an access pad, the access pad comprising a material formed of a mixture comprising a triblock copolymer, an oil, and a foaming agent, the access pad adapted to be disposed within an incision within an abdominal wall, the access pad having an external flange and an internal flange integrally formed with the access pad, the external flange adapted to be disposed external to the abdominal wall in an operative position and the internal flange adapted to be disposed internal to the abdominal wall in the operative position, wherein the access pad is configured to be maintained in the operative position and adapted to form a seal with the abdominal wall; and at least one opening through the access pad between an external surface and an internal surface of the access pad, wherein the opening when operatively disposed is in communication with the incision and forms a working channel between a location external to the abdominal wall and a location internal to the abdominal wall; wherein the access pad is adapted to conform to a surface of an instrument inserted through the working channel, at least a portion of the access pad between the external flange and the internal flange and within the incision between an external surface of the abdominal wall and an internal surface of the abdominal wall is adapted to form an instrument seal with the instrument, and wherein locating the access pad within the incision creates a radially compressive force to provide an axial seal between the access pad and the abdominal wall, and wherein the access pad with flanges is formed monolithically.