Expanding surgical access port

Abstract

A surgical access port that includes a cylindrical member having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a longitudinal axis; at least two lumen extending through the cylindrical member along the longitudinal axis; at least one cavity defined in the cylindrical member and positioned radially within the at least two lumen; and a source of inflation fluid coupled to the at least one cavity, the source of inflation configured to permit selectable inflation of the at least one cavity, whereby inflation of the at least one cavity increases the radial distance between the at least two lumen.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A surgical access port comprising:
 a cylindrical member having a proximal end and a distal end, the cylindrical member defining a longitudinal axis;   a first lumen extending through the cylindrical member between the proximal and distal ends;   an internal cavity defined along a length of the cylindrical member, the internal cavity enclosed by the proximal and distal ends of the cylindrical member, the internal cavity selectively inflatable, wherein the first lumen is disposed radially outward of at least a portion of the internal cavity with respect to the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         3 . The surgical access port according to  claim 2 , wherein the internal cavity is selectively inflatable to cause radial displacement of the first lumen. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical access port according to  claim 2 , wherein the cylindrical member further defines a second lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends of the cylindrical member, the second lumen disposed radially outward of at least a portion of the internal cavity with respect to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical access port according to  claim 4 , wherein the first and second lumens diametrically oppose each other. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical access port according to  claim 4 , wherein the internal cavity is transitionable between a first state in which the first and second lumens define a first distance therebetween, and a second state in which the first and second lumens are displaced to define a second distance greater than the first distance. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical access port according to  claim 2 , wherein the internal cavity is symmetric about the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical member. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical access port according to  claim 2 , further comprising a source of inflation fluid in communication with the internal cavity to provide selective inflation of the internal cavity. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical access port according to  claim 2 , wherein the first lumen is configured to receive a surgical instrument in a sealing relation therewith. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical access port according to  claim 2 , wherein the internal cavity includes a cross-section having a generally X-shape. 
     
     
         11 . A surgical access port comprising:
 a cylindrical member having a proximal end and a distal end, the cylindrical member defining a longitudinal axis;   a first lumen extending through the cylindrical member between the proximal and distal ends;   a plurality of internal cavities arranged about the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical member, the plurality of internal cavities enclosed by the proximal and distal ends of the cylindrical member, wherein at least one internal cavity of the plurality of internal cavities is selectively inflatable to cause radial displacement of the first lumen.   
     
     
         12 . The surgical access port according to  claim 11 , wherein each internal cavity of the plurality of internal cavities is separate from each other. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical access port according to  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of internal cavities are symmetrically arranged about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical access port according to  claim 11 , wherein the cylindrical member further defines a plurality of lumens extending between the proximal and distal ends of the cylindrical member, at least two lumens of the plurality of lumens diametrically oppose each other. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical access port according to  claim 14 , wherein the internal cavity is transitionable between a first state in which the at least two lumens of the plurality of lumens define a first distance therebetween, and a second state in which the at least two lumens of the plurality of lumens are displaced to define a second distance greater than the first distance. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical access port according to  claim 11 , further comprising a source of inflation fluid in communication with the plurality of internal cavity to provide selective inflation of the internal cavity. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical access port according to  claim 11 , wherein the first lumen is configured to receive a surgical instrument in a sealing relation therewith.