Patent ID: 8075530

Claim:
A surgical access device comprising a proximal end; a distal end; an instrument access channel extending through the access device from the proximal end to the distal end; a seal housing having a cap providing entry to the access channel at the proximal end; an instrument seal comprising an opening substantially aligned with the instrument access channel and a sealing portion configured to seal against an instrument inserted into the opening; and a shroud substantially aligned with the instrument access channel, an inverting portion thereof disposed distally of the opening in the instrument seal, the shroud comprising an aperture through the inverting portion; the instrument seal being located between the seal housing cap and the shroud, wherein the access device is convertible between a first state and a second state; in the first state, the inverting portion of the shroud is not inverted; in the second state, the inverting portion of the shroud is inverted and contacts the instrument seal, thereby protecting the instrument seal from damage by an instrument; and moving an instrument proximally in the access channel converts the access device from the first state to the second state.