Patent ID: 8747302

Claim:
An instrument holder assembly comprising: an annular body member; and a plurality of flexible tapered funnel-shaped port elements, each for receiving a surgical instrument or a portion thereof inserted therein, each defining a plurality of cross-sectional diameters and each of the plurality of tapered funnel-shaped port elements connected to the annular body member and extending proximally in a common direction therefrom, the taper of each of the tapered funnel-shaped port elements decreasing the plurality of cross-sectional diameters in the proximal direction, the plurality of tapered funnel-shaped port elements each defining a pre-instrument insertion configuration and a longitudinal axis when in the pre-instrument insertion configuration, the annular body member being flexible and defining a central longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end thereof, the distal end configured for insertion within an opening of a patient, wherein, when the plurality of tapered funnel-shaped port elements are in the pre-instrument insertion configuration, the longitudinal axes defined by the plurality of tapered funnel-shaped port elements are generally parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the annular body member, and wherein the annular body member defines at least a portion of a surgical workspace at a portion of the annular body member that is distal to the plurality of tapered funnel-shaped port elements.