Patent ID: 7481765

Claim:
A surgical access device for laparoscopic surgical procedures in which the abdominal cavity of a patient is pressurized with an insufflation gas, the access device adapted for disposition relative to an incision in a body wall of a patient, the access device facilitating insertion of an instrument through the access device and through the incision in the body wall of the patient, the access device configured for maintaining a seal with the instrument extending therethrough, and the access device configured for coupling to the body wall, thereby maintaining a sealing relationship therewith, the surgical access device comprising: a valve comprising a first, outer layer and a second, access layer, wherein the first, outer layer comprises a proximal surface and a distal surface, and the second, access layer comprises a proximal surface and a distal surface; a fist access channel positioned in the first, outer layer between the proximal and distal surfaces thereof; and a second access channel positioned in the second, access layer between the proximal and distal surfaces thereof, the second access channel being at least partially aligned with the first access channel, wherein the first, outer layer comprises a gel pad comprising an elastomeric gel material, and the second, access layer comprises a flexible material; the second, access layer is coupled to, and at least partially supports the gel pad; the valve is dimensioned and configured for coupling to a body wall during use, thereby substantially maintaining a sealing relationship therewith; and the valve has a first state, in which at least the first, outer layer of the valve forms an instrument seal with an instrument extending through the first and second access channels, and a second state, in which at least the first, outer layer of the valve forms a seal in the absence of any instrument extending through the first and second access channels; and the valve is adapted to accommodate a range of instrument sizes from about the size of a guidewire to about the size of a surgeon's arm.