Iris seal for single incision surgery

1. A surgical portal apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a sleeve extending from the housing, the sleeve dimensioned for positioning within tissue, the housing and the sleeve defining a longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal passage for permitting passage of a surgical object; and

a seal mounted to the housing, the seal including a plurality of independent leaf members depending at least radially inwardly from the housing relative to the longitudinal axis, the leaf members dimensioned and adapted for movement to between a first position corresponding to an open position of the seal member toward a second position to establish a substantial sealing relationship with a surgical object introduced through the seal;

a motor operatively connected to the leaf members and adapted to move the leaf members between the first position and the second position; and

resistive circuitry associated with the motor and adapted to detect an increase of load on the motor and to thereby releasably secure the leaf members in the second position.

2. The surgical portal apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the leaf members of the seal are pivotally mounted relative to the housing, and adapted for pivotal movement between the first position and the second position.

3. The surgical portal apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the leaf members are dimensioned and adapted for pivotal movement to a third position, the third position corresponding to a closed condition of the seal.

4. The surgical portal apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each leaf member is adapted for pivotal movement about a pivot pin.

5. The surgical portal apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the leaf members comprise an elastomeric material.

6. The surgical portal apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the motor is actuable during introduction of the surgical object through the longitudinal passage to cause the leaf members to move between the first position and the second position.

7. The surgical portal apparatus according to claim 6 further including an electronic switch associated with the motor, the electronic switch dimensioned and adapted to be engaged by the surgical object during introduction of the surgical object within the housing to activate the motor and thereby cause movement of the leaf members from the first position to the second position.

8. The surgical portal apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the switch is disposed proximal of the seal.

9. The surgical portal apparatus according to claim 8 including delay circuitry associated with the switch, the delay circuitry providing a predetermined period of time prior to the leaf members moving to the second position to allow the surgical object to pass through the seal.

10. The surgical portal apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the leaf members are adapted to pivot independently of each other between the first and second positions.

11. The surgical portal apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the leaf members are interconnected such that the leaf members pivot concurrently between the first and second positions.

12. The surgical portal apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the housing includes first and second housing components, the first housing component adapted to rotate about the longitudinal axis and operatively couplable with the leaf members whereby rotational movement of the first housing component in one direction causes the leaf members to move toward the first position and rotational movement of the housing component in a second direction causes the leaf members to pivot toward the second position.

13. The surgical portal apparatus according to claim 12 wherein each leaf member is pivotally mounted about a pivot pin, the pivot pin extending through an aperture within the leaf member and mounted to the second housing component.

14. The surgical portal apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the second housing component is fixed from rotational movement.