Patent ID: 6923783

Claim:
A surgical valve assembly for sealed reception of an elongated object, comprising: a valve body having at least one opening configured and dimensioned to permit entry of an elongated object and defining a central longitudinal axis, the valve body including an internal recess; a seal member disposed within the internal recess of the valve body, the seal member including at least one substrate and a plurality of flexible bristle members extending radially inwardly relative to the at least one substrate, the bristle members being arranged to define an aperture through the seal member for permitting passage of the elongated object therethrough in substantially fluid tight relation therewith, the bristle members being further arranged to form a taper to facilitate insertion of the elongated object, each bristle member being adapted to be displaced relative to the longitudinal axis to facilitate expansion of the aperture of the seal member upon entry of the elongated object therein; and an access member extending from the valve body, the access member dimensioned for positioning within body tissue and adapted to provide a path for passage of the elongated object.