Patent ID: 8323184

Claim:
A surgical portal assembly, which comprises: a portal member adapted for positioning within a tissue tract, the portal member defining a longitudinal axis and having leading and trailing ends, the portal member including a first longitudinal port and a second longitudinal port for passage of an object, the portal member comprising a compressible material and being adapted to transition between a first expanded condition to facilitate securing of the portal within the tissue tract and in substantial sealed relation with tissue surfaces defining the tissue tract, and a second compressed condition to facilitate at least partial insertion of the portal within the tissue tract; and a first elongated member and a second elongated member extending through the respective first and second longitudinal ports and mechanically couplable to the portal member adjacent the leading end thereof, the first and second elongated members adapted to move through the respective first and second longitudinal ports in a trailing direction to exert a compressive force at least adjacent the leading end to cause the portal member to transition toward the compressed condition, wherein the leading end of the portal member defines a first cross-sectional dimension when in the first expanded condition, wherein the first and second elongated members are arranged to cause the leading end of the portal member to define a second cross-sectional dimension less than the first cross-sectional dimension when the first and second elongated members are moved through the respective first and second longitudinal ports in the trailing direction, wherein the first and second elongated members are arranged to extend through the respective first and second longitudinal ports of the portal member, around the leading end and along an outer surface of the portal member.