Patent ID: 8628539

Claim:
A surgical apparatus for introduction of laparoscopic instruments into an anatomical cavity through tissue at an entry site, said apparatus comprising: a one-piece molded polymeric body with a frustoconical-shaped wall with an exterior sealing surface for sealable contact with the tissue at the entrance site, the body defining an interior cavity, an open bottom, and a substantially closed top wall with openings from which a plurality of ports extend upward therefrom, the plurality of ports for receiving the laparoscopic instruments for introduction through the interior cavity and open bottom of the body into the anatomical cavity; wherein the frustoconical-shaped wall tapers continuously from a large diameter adjacent the substantially closed top wall to a smaller diameter that defines the open bottom of the body; and wherein the top wall of the body has a reinforcement plate formed of a material different and relatively stiff with respect to the polymeric material of the body, the reinforcement plate including thru-holes that accommodate the plurality of ports, and the reinforcement plate configured to operate as a pivot point about which to pivot a respective laparoscopic instrument that passes through a corresponding thru-hole of the reinforcement plate.