Patent ID: 7651478

Claim:
A trocar having an axis and being adapted to receive a surgical instrument, comprising: a cannula disposed along the axis, the cannula having a proximal end and a distal end; a housing disposed at the proximal end of the cannula along the axis, the housing having a housing wall adapted to receive the surgical instrument generally along the axis and to introduce the surgical instrument into the cannula; and a valve disposed in the housing, the valve including a gel material, the gel material of the valve including an opening positioned substantially along the axis and adapted to receive the surgical instrument, the gel material having properties for forming a first seal with the housing wall, a second seal with the surgical instrument when the surgical instrument is present in the opening of the gel material, and a third seal when the surgical instrument is absent from the opening in the gel material, wherein the gel material being adapted to maintain the second seal when the surgical instrument is inserted off-axis or moved laterally from the axis, the first seal being formed by direct contact between the gel material and the housing wall, and the second seal being formed by direct contact between the gel material and the surgical instrument when the surgical instrument is present.