Trocar assembly with radially moveable housing

1. A surgical access assembly, which comprises:

a cannula adapted for insertion through tissue to permit access to an underlying tissue site, the cannula defining a longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal passageway for passage of a surgical object for positioning with respect to the tissue site;

a housing mounted to the cannula, the housing adapted for movement relative to the cannula in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis;

a seal disposed within the cannula and having a passage for reception of the surgical object in substantial sealed relation therewith; and

a support member mounted adjacent the housing, the support member adapted for movement relative to the housing between a first position corresponding to a secured position of the housing with respect to the cannula whereby the housing is prevented from moving in the direction transverse to the longitudinal axis, and a second position corresponding to a release position of the housing with respect to the cannula whereby the housing is permitted to move in the direction transverse to the longitudinal axis.

2. The surgical access assembly according to claim 1 wherein the support member is mounted to the cannula, the support member adapted to maintain a predetermined distance between the housing and the tissue.

3. The surgical access assembly according to claim 1 wherein the support member is mounted to the cannula and is selectively longitudinally positionable along the cannula with respect to the longitudinal axis to move between the first and second positions of the support member.

4. The surgical access assembly according to claim 3 including means for maintaining the support member at either the first position or the second position along the longitudinal axis.

5. The surgical access assembly according to claim 3 wherein the cannula and the support member include threaded portions dimensioned and adapted to cooperate to selectively move the support member along the cannula and between the first and second positions thereof upon relative rotational movement of the cannula and the support member.

6. The surgical access assembly according to claim 3 wherein the housing includes a seal disposed across the longitudinal opening.

7. The surgical access assembly according to claim 3 further including a compressible ring mounted between the cannula and the housing for maintaining the housing relative to the cannula.

8. The surgical access assembly according to claim 7 wherein the compressible ring is constructed of rubber or foam.

9. The surgical access assembly according to claim 3 wherein the support member is dimensioned and configured to securely engage the housing and in contacting relation therewith when in the first position of the support member.

10. The surgical access assembly according to claim 3 wherein the support member includes an outer rim, an inner rim and a plurality of spindles extending between the outer and inner rim.

11. A surgical access assembly which comprises:

a cannula adapted for insertion through tissue to permit access to an underlying tissue site, the cannula defining a longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal passageway for passage of a surgical object for positioning with respect to the tissue site;

a housing mounted to the cannula, the housing adapted for movement relative to the cannula in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis;

a seal disposed within the cannula and having a passage for reception of the surgical object in substantial sealed relation therewith; and

a support member selectively positionable along the cannula with respect to the longitudinal axis, the support member being adapted for rotational movement relative to the housing between a first position corresponding to a secured position of the housing with respect to the cannula whereby the housing is prevented from moving in the direction transverse to the longitudinal axis, and a second position corresponding to a release position of the housing with respect to the cannula whereby the housing is permitted to move in the direction transverse to the longitudinal axis.

12. A surgical access assembly, which comprises:

a cannula adapted for insertion through tissue to permit access to an underlying tissue site, the cannula defining a longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal passageway for passage of a surgical object for positioning with respect to the tissue site;

a housing mounted to the cannula and defining an opening therein for receiving a surgical object therethrough, the housing adapted for radial movement relative to the cannula, wherein the opening is axial aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cannula when the housing is in a first position and the opening is axial offset from the longitudinal axis when the housing is in a second position;

a seal disposed within the cannula and having a passage for reception of the surgical object in substantial sealed relation therewith; and

a support member mounted to the cannula and being configured and dimensioned to move relative to the housing to selectively lock the housing at either the first position or the second position.

13. The surgical access assembly according to claim 12 wherein the support member is adapted for longitudinal movement relative to the cannula.

14. The surgical access assembly according to claim 13 wherein the support member is dimensioned and configured to move relative to the housing to engage the housing to thereby selectively lock the housing in either the first position or the second position thereof.

15. The surgical access assembly according to claim 13 wherein the support member is coaxially mounted about the cannula.

16. The surgical access assembly according to claim 15 wherein the cannula and the support member include threaded portions dimensioned and adapted to cooperate to selectively move the support member along the cannula to selectively lock the housing at either the first position or the second position thereof.