Hand assisted laparoscopic device

1. A seal assembly for permitting hand assisted laparoscopic procedures, comprising:

a seal cap including a seal positioned within a housing, the housing including a lower seal ring having a track which supports an upper seal ring for relative rotational motion, wherein the seal is supported between the upper seal ring and the lower seal ring for rotation between an open orientation and a closed orientation;

a spring biasing the upper seal ring relative to the lower seal ring; and

a ratchet mechanism controlling motion of the upper seal ring relative to the lower seal ring the ratchet mechanism includes a ratchet arm oriented to engage a ratchet surface composed of a plurality of ratchet teeth, the ratchet arm being shaped and dimensioned to engage the ratchet teeth of the ratchet surface when rotated in a first direction until the ratchet arm moves beyond a rear end of the ratchet surface, where the ratchet arm is free to move past the ratchet surfaces and rotate in a second direction opposite the first direction.

2. The seal assembly according to claim 1 , further including a retractor extending from the seal cap.

3. The seal assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the housing further includes an attachment ring detachably secured to the lower seal ring for permitting selective attachment of the retractor by positioning it between the attachment ring and the lower seal ring.

4. The seal assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the lower seal ring includes at least one outwardly extending flange shaped and dimensioned for seating within at least one inwardly facing recess formed along the attachment ring.

5. The seal assembly according to claim 1 , where an upper end of the seal is connected to the upper seal ring and a lower end of the iris seal is connected to the lower seal ring.

6. The seal assembly according to claim 1 , further including an ergonomic cover member secured to the upper seal ring, wherein the ergonomic cover member includes a contoured outer surface providing for improved handling and twisting of the upper seal ring for opening and closing the seal.

7. The seal assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the seal is an iris seal.

8. The seal assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the iris seal is constructed in a folded configuration spanning the upper seal ring and the lower seal ring.

9. The seal assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the iris seal is composed of a rubber like member.

10. The seal assembly according to claim 1 , further including a contoured ring secured to the upper seal ring, the contoured ring including an inner circumference formed with a series of recesses shaped and dimensioned for receiving fingers of a user.

11. The seal assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the ratchet arm is shaped and dimensioned to engage the ratchet surface when the upper seal ring is rotated relative to the lower seal ring in the first direction and rides under the ratchet surface when the upper seal ring is rotated relative to the lower seal ring in the second direction.

12. The seal assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the ratchet arm includes a tapered distal end shaped and dimensioned to ride under the ratchet surface as the upper seal ring is rotated relative to the lower seal ring in the second direction.

13. The seal assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the ratchet arm is secured to the upper seal ring and the ratchet surface is on the lower seal ring.

14. The seal assembly according to claim 13 , further including first and second ratchet surfaces on the lower seal ring.

15. The seal assembly according to claim 1 , further including first and second ratchet surfaces.