Surgical access apparatus

Abstract

An access apparatus for use during a surgical procedure to provide access to the interior of the body includes an access member defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end for being disposed at an exterior side of the body and a distal end for extending into the interior of the body. The access member has a bore therethrough dimensioned to permit passage of an object. A seal is disposed within the bore of the access member. The seal includes a fabric material and an elastomeric material, and defines an internal passageway dimensioned to form a substantial sealing relation with an object inserted therethrough.

Description

BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Disclosure The present disclosure relates to surgical devices and, more particularly, to a surgical access apparatus for use during a minimally invasive surgical procedure. The present disclosure further relates to a novel seal assembly for forming a seal about a surgical object while accommodating angular manipulation of the surgical object. 2. Description of the Related Art Minimally invasive surgical procedures including both endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures permit surgery to be performed on organs, tissues and vessels far removed from an opening within the tissue. Laparoscopic and endoscopic procedures generally require that any instrumentation inserted into the body be sealed, i.e. provisions must be made to ensure that gases do not enter or exit the body through the incision as, for example, in surgical procedures in which the surgical region is insufflated. These procedures typically employ surgical instruments which are introduced into th...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The housing extends above the patient's body, when the cannula is inserted into the incision, reducing the effective length of instruments inserted through the cannula and potentially encumbering maneuverability about the operative site.

However, despite its recent success and overall acceptance as a preferred surgical technique, minimally invasive surgery, such as laparoscopy, has several disadvantages.

In particular, the maintenance of the seal about the surgical instrument within the cannula has proven to be difficult in certain procedures, e.g., in procedures requiring extensive manipulation of the long narrow endoscopic instruments within a remote site.

In addition, many conventional seal assemblies are not adapted to accommodate instruments of various sizes, while still maintaining the seal about the inserted instrument.

Even further, known seal assemblies are relatively complex, which increases the length of the housing in which it is confined.

As a consequence, maneuverability above the operative site and the effective length of the instrument are undesirably affected.

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