Introducer seal assembly

1. A surgical access port, which comprises:

a cannula including a housing and a cannula sleeve extending from the housing, the cannula defining a longitudinal passage extending between the cannula housing and the cannula sleeve, the housing including an internal seal mount defining a generally arcuate inner surface adjacent the longitudinal passage within the housing, the cannula sleeve adapted to access an underlying body cavity insufflated with gases; and

a removable seal at least partially positionable within the housing to be received within the internal seal mount, the seal including a seal member having a generally arcuate outer surface and an inner surface defining an aperture for sealed reception of a surgical instrument, the arcuate outer surface of the seal member adapted to cooperatively contact the arcuate inner surface of the internal seal mount of the housing to establish a coupling interface therebetween permitting angulation of the seal member within the internal seal mount of the housing along respective outer and inner surfaces thereof, and further permitting removal of the seal through direct manual engagement and manipulation of the seal member by a user,

wherein the internal seal mount includes at least one pivotal mounting leg, the at least one mounting leg adapted to pivot from an initial position to a radial outward position during insertion and of the seal relative to the internal seal mount of the housing, and thereafter return toward the initial position, to thereby permit the inner surface of the internal seal mount to cooperatively engage the outer surface of the seal member to releasably retain the seal member within the at least one mounting leg.

2. The surgical access port of claim 1 , wherein the internal seal mount includes a pair of generally opposed mounting legs.

3. A surgical access port, comprising:

a cannula sleeve segment having a first passageway therethrough, and defining a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end;

a cannula housing segment mounted to the proximal end of the cannula sleeve and having a second passageway therethrough, the second passageway being aligned with the first passageway;

a seal housing segment associated with the mounted cannula housing segment and having a third passageway therethrough, the third passageway being aligned with the second passageway, the seal housing segment having a substantially concave surface defining a center point and x, y and z-axes; and

a seal having a substantially semi-spherical seal segment and a substantially tubular inner segment disposed within the semi-spherical seal segment, the semi-spherical seal segment comprising a relatively rigid material, the tubular inner segment comprising an elastomeric material and adapted to establish a substantial sealed relation with a surgical object introduced through the tubular inner segment, the seal and the seal housing segment being configured to permit angulating movement of the seal about each of the x, y and z axes and relative to the center point.

4. The surgical access port of claim 1 , further comprising a zero-closure valve within the cannula housing.

5. The surgical access port of claim 1 , wherein the seal element and the seal housing segment further comprise one of a magnetic material and a ferromagnetic material to establish a magnetic coupling therebetween.

6. The surgical access port of claim 1 wherein the concave surface of the seal housing segment and the semi-spherical seal segment of the seal element define a coupling interface, the coupling interface dimensioned and adapted to permit releasable connection of the seal element relative to the seal housing segment.

7. The surgical access port of claim 6 wherein the seal element is dimensioned to extend in a proximal direction beyond each of the cannula housing segment and the seal housing segment to be externally accessible to thereby facilitate removal of the seal element relative to the seal housing segment.

8. The surgical access port of claim 6 wherein the coupling interface is dimensioned and adapted to permit removal of the seal element relative to the seal housing segment through relative longitudinal movement therebetween and without relative rotational movement of the seal element and the seal housing.

9. A surgical access port, which comprises:

a cannula including a housing and a cannula sleeve extending from the housing, the cannula defining a longitudinal passage extending between the cannula housing and the cannula sleeve, the housing including an internal seal mount defining a generally arcuate inner surface adjacent the longitudinal passage within the housing, the cannula sleeve adapted to access an underlying body cavity insufflated with gases; and

a removable seal at least partially positionable within the housing to be received within the internal seal mount, the seal including a seal member having a generally arcuate outer surface and an inner surface disposed within the arcuate outer surface, the inner surface defining an aperture for sealed reception of a surgical instrument, the arcuate outer surface of the seal member adapted to cooperatively contact the arcuate inner surface of the internal seal mount of the housing to establish a coupling interface therebetween permitting angulation of the seal member within the internal seal mount of the housing along respective outer and inner surfaces thereof, and further permitting removal of the seal through direct manual engagement and manipulation of the seal member by a user.

10. The surgical access port of claim 9 , including magnetic coupling means for facilitating the removable retention of the seal apparatus within the cannula housing.

11. The surgical access port of claim 9 , wherein the arcuate inner surface of the internal seal mount defines an open cavity for reception of the seal member.

12. The surgical access port of claim 9 , wherein the coupling interface is dimensioned and adapted to permit removal of the seal relative to the internal seal mount through relative longitudinal movement therebetween and without relative rotational movement of the seal and the internal seal mount.