Patent ID: 8282603

Claim:
A surgical access device comprising: a surgical sleeve defining a central longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal passageway to permit passage of a surgical object; and a diameter reduction assembly operably couplable to the surgical sleeve, the diameter reduction assembly including: a structure foundation including a tubular wall, a first member, and a second annular member; and at least three stand-off elements mounted to the structure foundation about the longitudinal axis, each stand-off element being positioned to engage the surgical object during insertion and being independently movable relative to the remaining stand-off elements to permit passage of the surgical object, the at least three stand-off elements dimensioned and arranged to contact the surgical object and to minimize off-axis and/or angular movement of the surgical object, the at least three stand-off elements being normally biased to a first position which urges the surgical object into general alignment with the central longitudinal axis, each of the at least three stand-off elements being adapted for distal pivotal movement from the first position to a second position distal to the first position to facilitate passage of the surgical object, and each being further adapted for proximal pivotal movement from the first position to a third position proximal to the first position to facilitate withdrawal of the surgical object, the tubular wall of the structure foundation being adapted for longitudinal movement relative to the first member and the second annular member to increase an effective length of the structure foundation to accommodate the proximal pivotal movement of the at least three stand-off elements to the third position.