Patent ID: 7967833

Claim:
A cannula system to facilitate surgical intervention in a patient's body cavity, the cannula system comprising: a cannula body having a distal end having a distal opening, a proximal end having a proximal opening, and a cannula passage extending from the distal opening to the proximal opening, wherein the cannula passage, distal opening, and proximal opening are configured for introduction of surgical instruments and sutures therethrough, wherein the cannula body is generally rigid and is configured for positioning in an intercostal space in the patient's chest, wherein the cannula passage has a cross-sectional width and a cross-sectional height, wherein the cross-sectional width is at least 12 mm, and wherein the cross-sectional height is at least 2 to 6 times larger than the cross-sectional width; organizer means at the proximal end of the cannula body for retaining a plurality of sutures extending through the cannula passage from the body cavity in spaced apart positions outside of the body cavity, wherein the organizer means comprises a first organizing ring having an interior passage and a plurality of suture retaining means circumferentially spaced about the interior passage, wherein the first organizing ring is fixed to the proximal end of the cannula body with the interior passage aligned with the cannula passage, and wherein the suture retaining means comprise a plurality of slots in the first organizing ring circumferentially spaced about the interior passage; and means for maintaining the sutures in tension, wherein said means for retaining the sutures in tension is positioned at the proximal end of the cannula body.