Patent attributes
A surgical access apparatus includes a liner base and an access housing for positioning outside the body. The liner base includes an inner member adapted for insertion through an opening within body tissue for positioning within the body; a sleeve member connected to the inner member and dimensioned to extend from the inner member through the opening within the body tissue, and a plurality of tensioning elements connected to the inner member and associated with the sleeve member to impart a tensioning effect on the sleeve member. The access housing includes a first element and a second element. The second element is operatively connected to the tensioning elements and adapted for rotational movement relative to the first member to cause the tensioning elements to displace the inner member toward the access housing and to cause the sleeve member to engage and retract tissue defining the opening within the body. The tensioning members are adapted to move relative to the sleeve member upon rotation of the second element and may be embedded within the sleeve member. A seal is preferably mounted to the access housing and is adapted to form a fluid tight seal about an object inserted therethrough. A zero closure valve may also be mounted relative to the liner member for forming a fluid tight seal in the absence of an object positioned therethrough. The second member of the access housing is adapted to be selectively secured at a predetermined rotational relationship with respect to the first member to provide for selective tensioning of the tensioning elements and selective retraction of tissue.
