Patent ID: 8262622

Claim:
A surgical valve having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end, comprising: a housing including a proximal housing portion and a distal housing portion adjustably cooperating with the proximal housing portion to define a gel cavity; a seal material disposed in the gel cavity, the seal material including a gel having non-compressible characteristics, the gel having characteristics for creating a pressure on an instrument extending through the valve to form a seal around the instrument; a proximal guide tube extending axially proximally from the proximal housing portion; the proximal guide tube facilitating insertion of a surgical instrument into the seal material; and a distal guide tube extending axially distally from the distal housing portion, the distal guide tube facilitating retrograde insertion of the surgical instrument into the surgical seal, wherein the proximal guide tube includes exterior portions extending proximally of the proximal housing portion and interior portions extending distally of the proximal housing portion, wherein the proximal housing portion is adjustably movable axially relative to the distal housing portion to increase the pressure of the incompressible gel on the instrument and to create a locking force tending to inhibit movement of the instrument relative to the valve.