Introducer assembly with suspended seal

A surgical cannula apparatus, which comprises:

• a cannula housing;
• a cannula sleeve extending from the cannula housing, the cannula sleeve defining a longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal opening to permit introduction of a surgical instrument;
• and
• a seal member mounted relative to the cannula housing, the seal member including a distal seal end, a proximal seal end disposed within the distal seal end, and an inner area interconnecting the proximal and distal seal ends, the inner area defining an aperture for reception of the surgical instrument in substantial sealed relation therewith, the proximal seal end defining an outer periphery adapted for movement relative to the longitudinal axis, the distal seal end defining an outer periphery connected to the cannula housing.

A method of providing a seal around a surgical instrument, comprising:

• providing a cannula assembly including an access housing defining a longitudinal axis and a seal having a distal end that is attached to the access housing and a proximal end that is longitudinally movable with respect to the distal end;
• engaging the proximal end with the surgical instrument;
• and
• moving the proximal end longitudinally with respect to the distal end so that the seal unfolds.