US Patent 7163525 Duckbill seal protector

A seal for use in conjunction with a trocar assembly includes a seal body adapted for selectively opening and closing the seal, and a protector adjacent the seal body for protecting the seal body from instruments passing through the seal body. The protector includes at least one flap mounted for pivotal movement, the flap including an inner edge located generally toward a center of the seal and an outer edge mounted to a support member which maintains the flap in a position above the seal body. The flap is shaped and dimensioned such that the majority of the seal body is covered by the outline of the flap.