SEAL ASSEMBLY FOR SURGICAL ACCESS DEVICE
Seal assemblies are provided, comprising a seal holder including a cylindrical wall portion that defines a central passage. The seal assembly comprises a seal supported in the central passage of the seal holder. The seal has a substantially spherical configuration and includes a distal aperture and a proximal aperture, wherein the distal and/or proximal aperture is dimensioned for substantial sealed reception with a surgical instrument. The seal is adapted for angular movement relative to a central longitudinal axis of the seal holder upon angulation of the surgical instrument, whereby the seal substantially maintains a sealed relationship with the surgical instrument. The seal assembly comprises a seal cover defining an aperture formed in a transverse wall thereof. The seal cover is configured for connection with the seal holder for maintaining the seal within the central passage of the seal holder.
1 . A surgical seal assembly for use with a surgical access device, the seal assembly comprising:
a seal holder including a cylindrical wall portion defining a central passage dimensioned to permit passage of a surgical instrument through the seal holder;
a seal supported in the central passage of the seal holder, the seal having a substantially spherical configuration and including a distal aperture and a proximal aperture, wherein at least one of the distal and proximal aperture is dimensioned for substantial sealed reception of the surgical instrument, and wherein the seal is adapted for angular movement relative to a central longitudinal axis of the seal holder upon angulation of the surgical instrument, and wherein the seal longitudinally translates upon the longitudinal displacement of the surgical instrument upon insertion and withdrawal of the surgical instrument to/from the access device, whereby the seal substantially maintains a sealed relationship with the surgical instrument; and
a seal cover defining an aperture formed in a transverse wall thereof and is configured for connection with the seal holder for maintaining the seal within the central passage of the seal holder, wherein the proximal aperture of the seal is in registration with the aperture of the seal cover.
2 . The surgical seal assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the seal is fabricated from at least one of a substantially elastomeric and substantially resilient material.
3 . The surgical seal assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the seal creates a sealed relationship with a surface of the seal holder during passage of the surgical instrument through the seal holder in a first direction, and the seal creates a sealed relationship with a surface of the seal cover during passage of the surgical instrument through the seal holder in a second direction.
4 . The surgical seal assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the proximal aperture of the seal is larger than the distal aperture of the seal.
5 . The surgical seal assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the seal cover includes a cylindrical wall extending from the transverse wall and being configured for positioning in the proximal aperture of the seal.
6 . The surgical seal assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the seal cover includes a sloped portion between the transverse wall and the cylindrical wall.
7 . The surgical seal assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the distal aperture of the seal is larger than the proximal aperture of the seal.
8 . The surgical seal assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the cylindrical wall portion has a tapered distal portion and the seal holder includes a cylindrical inner wall portion extending proximally from a distal edge of the tapered distal portion, the cylindrical inner wall portion being configured for positioning in the distal aperture of the seal.
9 . The surgical seal assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the seal has a hemi-spherical configuration.
10 . A surgical access device, comprising:
a cannula assembly including a sleeve defining a lumen and supporting a closure valve at a proximal end thereof; and
a seal assembly supported at a proximal end of the cannula assembly, the seal assembly including:
a seal holder including a cylindrical wall portion defining a central passage dimensioned to permit passage of a surgical instrument through the seal holder and into the lumen of the cannula assembly;
a seal supported in the central passage of the seal holder, the seal having a substantially spherical configuration and including a distal aperture and a proximal aperture, wherein at least one of the distal and proximal aperture is dimensioned for substantial sealed reception of the surgical instrument, and wherein the seal is adapted for angular movement relative to a central longitudinal axis of the seal holder upon angulation of the surgical instrument, and wherein the seal longitudinally translates upon the longitudinal displacement of the surgical instrument upon insertion and withdrawal of the surgical instrument to/from the access device, whereby the seal substantially maintains a sealed relationship with the surgical instrument; and
a seal cover defining an aperture formed in a transverse wall thereof and is configured for connection with the seal holder for maintaining the seal within the central passage of the seal holder, wherein the proximal aperture of the seal is in registration with the aperture of the seal cover.
11 . The surgical access device according to claim 10 , wherein the seal is fabricated from at least one of a substantially elastomeric and substantially resilient material.
12 . The surgical access device according to claim 10 , wherein the seal creates a sealed relationship with a surface of the seal holder during passage of the surgical instrument through the seal holder in a first direction, and the seal creates a sealed relationship with a surface of the seal cover during passage of the surgical instrument through the seal holder in a second direction.
13 . The surgical access device according to claim 12 , wherein the proximal aperture of the seal is larger than the distal aperture of the seal.
14 . The surgical access device according to claim 12 , wherein the seal cover includes a cylindrical wall extending from the transverse wall and being configured for positioning in the proximal aperture of the seal.
15 . The surgical access device according to claim 14 , wherein the seal cover includes a sloped portion between the transverse wall and the cylindrical wall.
16 . The surgical access device according to claim 12 , wherein the distal aperture of the seal is larger than the proximal aperture of the seal.
17 . The surgical access device according to claim 16 , wherein the cylindrical wall portion has a tapered distal portion and the seal holder includes a cylindrical inner wall portion extending proximally from a distal edge of the tapered distal portion, the cylindrical inner wall portion being configured for positioning in the distal aperture of the seal.
18 . The surgical access device according to claim 10 , wherein the seal has a hemi-spherical configuration.
19 . The surgical access device according to claim 10 , wherein the cannula assembly includes a cannula housing supported on a proximal end of the sleeve, wherein the cannula housing is configured to support the closure valve therein and is configured to selectively engage the seal assembly.
20 . The surgical access device according to claim 19 , wherein the cannula housing includes a port opening formed therein and is configured for operative receipt of a luer fitting therein.
21 . A surgical seal assembly for use with a surgical access device, the seal assembly comprising:
a seal holder including a cylindrical wall portion defining a central passage dimensioned to permit passage of a surgical instrument through the seal holder;
a seal supported in the central passage of the seal holder, the seal having a substantially spherical configuration and including a distal aperture and a proximal aperture, wherein at least one of the distal and proximal aperture is dimensioned for substantial sealed reception of the surgical instrument, and wherein the seal is adapted for angular movement relative to a central longitudinal axis of the seal holder upon angulation of the surgical instrument, and wherein the seal moves between radially stagnant and radially deflected conditions upon the longitudinal displacement of the surgical instrument upon insertion and withdrawal of the surgical instrument to/from the access device, whereby the seal substantially maintains sealed relationship with the surgical instrument; and
a seal cover defining an aperture formed in a transverse wall thereof and is configured for connection with the seal holder for maintaining the seal within the central passage of the seal holder, wherein the proximal aperture of the seal is in registration with the aperture of the seal cover.
22 . The surgical seal assembly according to claim 21 , wherein the seal forms a sealed interface upon at least one of insertion and withdrawal of the surgical instrument to/from the access device as the seal moves between radially stagnant and radially deflected conditions.
23 . The surgical seal assembly according to claim 22 , wherein the seal forms at least two annular sealed interfaces upon at least one of insertion and withdrawal of the surgical instrument to/from the access device as the seal moves between radially stagnant and radially deflected.
24 . The surgical seal assembly according to claim 21 , wherein the seal is fabricated from at least one of a substantially elastomeric and substantially resilient material.