A surgical sealing device (405), suitable for use during a surgical procedure such as a laparoscopic procedure or a hand-assisted laparoscopic procedure, comprises a first sealing member (5) and a second sealing member (6). A thin slit is defined between the sealing members (5, 6). In a closed configuration, the first sealing member (5) overlaps the distal end opening of a passageway (2) through the second sealing member (6) to prevent leakage of insufflation gases out of an
abdomen (4). In an open configuration, the first sealing member (5) is retracted to reveal the distal end opening of the passageway (2) and thus facilitate passage of an object, such as a surgeon's hand or
forearm (3), into the
abdomen (4). The device (405) comprises a planar support element (406) fixedly attached to the proximal exterior surface (408) of the first sealing member (5). The first sealing member (5) is fixedly attached to the second sealing member (6) at an attached region (409), with a detached region (407) remaining detached from the second sealing member (6). The support element (406) acts as a stiffening element to increase the stiffness of the detached region (407) of the first sealing member (5) to minimise the deformation of the detached region (407) of the first sealing member (5) when the surgeon's hand /
forearm (3) is pushed through the passageway (2). It is thus easier for the surgeon to retract the first sealing member (5) laterally to reveal the distal end opening of the passageway (2) by pushing the hand /
forearm (3) through the passageway (2) and easier for the surgeon to pass the hand / forearm (3) through the device (405) and
gain access to the
abdomen (4).