ENDOSCOPIC PORTAL HAVING UNIVERSAL SEALS AND METHODS FOR INTRODUCING INSTRUMENTS THERETHROUGH

摘要

An endoscopic portal (10) for establishing communication with a body cavity for the introduction of instruments through the endoscopic portal includes a seal (16) having a variable size passage for communication with the body cavity to permit instruments of varying sizes to be passed therethrough, and a tubular expander (240) aligned with the variable size passage (47). The seal is biased to a contracted position wherein the variable size passage has a first cross-sectional size and is movable to an expanded position, wherein the variable size passage has a second cross-sectional size larger than the first cross-sectional size. The tubular expander has a blunt end (275) insertable in the variable size passage to move the seal from the contracted position to the expanded position such that an instrument having a cross-sectional size larger than the first cross-sectional size can be introduced through the expander and the seal into the body cavity without contacting the seal.