Access assembly with adjustable seal member
View Patent ↗A surgical access assembly for receiving instruments of various diameters is disclosed. The access assembly includes a housing defining a longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal opening for passage of a surgical instrument. The access assembly may also include a mechanism disposed within the housing and having a passageway for reception and passage of the surgical instrument in substantial sealed relation therewith. The mechanism may be adapted for reciprocal longitudinal movement within the housing between a first position corresponding to a first dimension of the passageway and a second position corresponding to a second dimension of the passageway. The mechanism may include a single seal element or first and second seal elements. The seal elements may be adapted for lateral movement during longitudinal movement of the seal. The first and second seal elements may be in at least partial overlapping relation when in the first position of the seal. The access assembly may include a lock or latch for preventing movement of the seal elements.
1. A surgical access assembly, which comprises:
a housing defining a longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal opening for passage of a surgical instrument, and defining proximal and distal ends;
a mechanism disposed within the housing and having a passageway for reception and passage of the surgical instrument therethrough, the mechanism adapted for reciprocal longitudinal movement within the housing between at least a first position corresponding to a first dimension of the passageway and a second position corresponding to a second dimension of the passageway, wherein the mechanism includes first and second seal elements, the seal elements adapted for lateral movement during longitudinal movement of the mechanism; and
a locking mechanism mounted to the housing for selectively securing the mechanism at the first position thereof.
2. The surgical access assembly according to claim 1 wherein the mechanism is configured to receive the surgical instrument in a substantially sealed relation therewith.
3. The surgical access assembly according to claim 1 wherein the first position of the mechanism corresponds to a proximal position and the second position of the mechanism corresponds to a distal position.
4. The surgical access assembly according to claim 2 wherein the first dimension of the passageway is less than the second dimension of the passageway.
5. The surgical access assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a latch for selectively securing the mechanism at the first position thereof.
6. A surgical access assembly, which comprises:
a housing defining a longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal opening for passage of a surgical instrument, and defining proximal and distal ends;
a mechanism disposed within the housing and having a passageway for reception and passage of the surgical instrument therethrough, wherein the mechanism is configured to receive the surgical instrument in a substantially sealed relation therewith, the mechanism adapted for reciprocal longitudinal movement within the housing between at least a first position corresponding to a first dimension of the passageway and a second position corresponding to a second dimension of the passageway, wherein the first dimension of the passageway is less than the second dimension of the passageway, wherein the mechanism includes first and second seal elements, the seal elements adapted for lateral movement during longitudinal movement of the mechanism.
7. The surgical access assembly according to claim 6 wherein the seal elements are adapted for lateral movement during longitudinal movement of the mechanism between the first and second positions thereof.
8. The surgical access assembly according to claim 7 wherein the first and second seal elements are adapted to move laterally outwardly upon movement of the mechanism from the first position to the second position.
9. The surgical access assembly according to claim 8 wherein the first and second seal elements are in at least partial overlapping relation when in the first position of the mechanism.
10. The surgical access assembly according to claim 9 including a base mounted to each seal element.
11. The surgical access assembly according to claim 8 including a lever intersecting the longitudinal opening of the housing and operatively connected to the mechanism, the lever positioned to engage the surgical instrument during passage through the housing to thereby facilitate movement of the mechanism from the first position to the second position thereof.