Access port including rotatable seals

Abstract

A surgical access device includes a housing; an access member extending distally from the housing and being dimensioned for positioning within tissue, and defining a longitudinal axis; and a seal assembly disposed within the housing. The seal assembly includes first and second seal components respectively having first and second seal members. Each of the first and second seal members defines a passage for passage of a surgical object in substantial sealed relation therewith. The first and second seal components are capable of relative rotation about the longitudinal axis between a first position, in which passages of the first and second seal members are in substantial alignment, and a second position where the passages of the first and second seal members are offset to inhibit the communication of fluid through the seal assembly.

1 . A method of performing a surgical procedure, comprising the steps of:
 accessing a body cavity with a surgical access device including first and second seal components;   positioning the first seal component and the second seal component at a first relative angular position, whereby passages extending through the first and second seal components are offset from each other to substantially inhibit fluid communication through the surgical access device;   moving the first seal component and the second seal component to a second relative angular position, whereby the passages extending through the first and second seal components are in general alignment; and   thereafter, introducing a surgical object into an internal surgical worksite through the surgical access device to carry out the surgical procedure.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of moving the first seal component and the second seal component includes effectuating relative rotation between the first and second seal components. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further including the step of introducing a fluid into the body cavity to insufflate the body cavity. 
     
     
         4 . A seal assembly adapted for use with a surgical access device, the seal assembly comprising:
 first and second seal components respectively including first and second seal members, wherein the first and second seal components are configured and dimensioned for relative rotation such that the seal assembly is movable between a first position, in which passages extending through the first and second seal members are in general alignment, and a second position, in which the passages extending through the first and second seal members are offset, to inhibit communication of fluid through the seal assembly.   
     
     
         5 . The seal assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second seal components are identical in structure. 
     
     
         6 . The seal assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the seal members are configured as multi-slit valves. 
     
     
         7 . The seal assembly of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the first and second seal components is at least partially receivable within the other of the first and second seal components. 
     
     
         8 . The seal assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first seal component includes a first base member and a first cap extending proximally therefrom, and the second seal component includes a second base member and a second cap extending proximally therefrom. 
     
     
         9 . The seal assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first cap defines a transverse dimension that is smaller than a transverse dimension of the first base member, and the second cap defines a transverse dimension that is smaller than a transverse dimension of the second base member. 
     
     
         10 . The seal assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the first base member defines an internal cavity configured and dimensioned to receive the second cap. 
     
     
         11 . The seal assembly of  claim 4 , further including detent means configured and dimensioned to releasably secure the first and second seal components together in either of the first and second positions. 
     
     
         12 . The seal assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first seal component includes at least one detent configured and dimensioned for positioning within at least one corresponding recess formed in the second seal component. 
     
     
         13 . The seal assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the seal assembly includes at least one bearing to facilitate relative rotation between the first and second seal components. 
     
     
         14 . A surgical access device, which comprising:
 a housing; and   a seal assembly disposed within the housing, the seal assembly including first and second seal components in operative connection such that the first and second seal components are capable of relative rotation within the housing about the longitudinal axis to control fluid communication through the seal assembly.   
     
     
         15 . The surgical access device of  claim 14 , wherein the first seal component includes a first seal member, and the second seal component includes a second seal member, each of the first and second seal members including a passage extending therethrough configured and dimensioned to removably receive a surgical object in substantial sealed relation therewith. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical access device of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second seal components are capable of relative rotation between a first position, in which the passages of the first and second seal members are in general alignment, and a second position, in which the passages of the first and second seal members are out of alignment, to inhibit fluid communication through the seal assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical access device of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second seal components are identical in structure. 
     
     
         18 . The seal assembly of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first and second seal components is at least partially receivable within the other of the first and second seal components. 
     
     
         19 . The seal assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the first seal component includes a first base member and a first cap extending proximally therefrom, and the second seal component includes a second base member and a second cap extending proximally therefrom. 
     
     
         20 . The seal assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the first base member defines an internal cavity configured and dimensioned to receive the second cap.