SEAL ASSEMBLY FOR USE WITH AN ACCESS DEVICE
A surgical access device for use during a surgical procedure is disclosed and includes a housing, an access member and a seal assembly. The access member extends distally from the housing and is dimensioned for positioning within tissue. The seal assembly is disposed in mechanical cooperation at least partially within the housing and comprises an instrument seal and a zero-closure valve. The instrument seal comprises an outer portion and an inner portion. The inner portion has an aperture extending therethrough. The instrument seal is configured to maintain a substantially fluid-tight seal with respect to a surgical instrument inserted therethrough. The zero-closure valve is configured to maintain a substantially fluid-tight seal in the absence of a surgical instrument inserted therethrough. The zero-closure valve includes an annular groove disposed along an inner periphery thereof and is configured and dimensioned to accommodate an outer periphery of the instrument seal.
1 . A surgical access device for use during a surgical procedure, the surgical access device comprising:
a housing;
an access member extending distally from the housing and being dimensioned for positioning within tissue, the housing and the access member defining a longitudinal axis; and
a seal assembly disposed in mechanical cooperation at least partially within the housing, the seal assembly comprising:
an instrument seal comprising an outer portion and an inner portion, the inner portion having an aperture extending therethrough, the instrument seal being configured to maintain a substantially fluid-tight seal with respect to a surgical instrument inserted therethrough; and
a zero-closure valve configured to maintain a substantially fluid-tight seal in the absence of a surgical instrument inserted therethrough, the zero-closure valve including an annular groove disposed along an inner periphery thereof, the annular groove being configured and dimensioned to accommodate an outer periphery of the instrument seal.
2 . The surgical access device of claim 1 , wherein the annular groove of the zero-closure valve is formed within a proximally-disposed annular lip of the zero-closure valve.
3 . The surgical access device of claim 1 , wherein the annular lip is configured to engage an annular recess of the housing.
4 . The surgical access device of claim 2 , wherein the annular lip includes a proximal portion, an outer portion and a distal portion.
5 . The surgical access device of claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the annular lip is made from a flexible material.
6 . The surgical access device of claim 4 , wherein the proximal portion of the annular lip is made from a flexible material.
7 . The surgical access device of claim 4 , wherein the proximal portion of the annular lip can be flexed with respect to the outer portion of the annular lip.
8 . The surgical access device of claim 1 , wherein the instrument seal is insertable into the annular groove of the zero-closure valve, and wherein the instrument seal is removable from the annular groove of the zero-closure valve.
9 . The surgical access device of claim 1 , wherein the outer portion of the instrument seal has a rigidity that is greater than a rigidity of the inner portion of the instrument seal.
10 . The surgical access device of claim 1 , wherein the outer portion of the instrument seal includes a ring formed from a rigid or semi-rigid material.
11 . The surgical access device of claim 10 , wherein the ring is formed of plastic.
12 . The surgical access device of claim 1 , wherein the inner portion of the instrument seal is elastomeric material.
13 . The surgical access device of claim 12 , wherein the outer portion of the instrument seal includes a ring formed from a rigid or semi-rigid material, and wherein the elastomeric material is connected to the ring.
14 . The surgical access device of claim 13 , wherein the elastomeric material is connected to the ring by being overmolded thereon.
15 . A seal assembly for use with a surgical access device, the seal assembly comprising:
an instrument seal comprising an outer portion and an inner portion, the inner portion having an aperture extending therethrough, the instrument seal being configured to maintain a substantially fluid-tight seal with respect to a surgical instrument inserted therethrough; and
a zero-closure valve configured to maintain a substantially fluid-tight seal in the absence of a surgical instrument inserted therethrough, the zero-closure valve including an annular groove disposed along an inner periphery thereof, the annular groove being configured and dimensioned to accommodate an outer periphery of the instrument seal.
16 . A zero-closure valve for use with a surgical access device, the zero-closure valve comprising:
a body portion including an inner wall and an outer wall; and
an annular groove disposed along an inner periphery of the inner wall, the annular groove being configured and dimensioned to accommodate an outer periphery of an instrument seal;
wherein the zero-closure valve is configured to maintain a substantially fluid-tight seal in the absence of a surgical instrument inserted therethrough.