Surgical access assembly

2:

• The surgical access assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer liner is formed from a biocompatible gel.

3:

• The surgical access assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer liner is overmolded to the inner liner.

4:

• The surgical access assembly of claim 1, wherein the body portion of the access assembly includes a substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration.

5:

• The surgical access assembly of claim 1, wherein the body portion of the access assembly includes substantially planar sidewalls.

6:

• The surgical access assembly of claim 4, wherein the body portion of the access assembly includes at least one pair of arcuate sidewalls.

7:

• The surgical access assembly of claim 1, wherein the body portion includes a proximal portion defining a first transverse dimension, and a distal portion defining a second, smaller transverse dimension, the proximal portion being configured and dimensioned for engagement with the patient's tissue to prevent passage of the access assembly entirely into the internal work site.

8:

• A surgical access assembly configured and dimensioned to facilitate access to an internal work site through an intercostal space defined between a patient's adjacent ribs, the surgical access assembly comprising a body portion having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the body portion defining an internal space configured and dimensioned to receive a surgical instrument, and including an inner membrane and an outer membrane defining a cavity therebetween configured and dimensioned to retain a fluid therein, the inner membrane and the outer membrane being formed from a substantially impermeable biocompatible material, wherein the surgical access assembly is repositionable between deflated and inflated conditions upon communication of the fluid to and from the cavity to facilitate resilient deformation of the access assembly and conformity with the intercostal space to minimize the application of force to the patient's tissue upon insertion and removal of the access assembly and manipulation of the surgical instrument within the internal space.

9:

• The surgical access assembly of claim 8, wherein the distal portion includes a substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration.

10:

• The surgical access assembly of claim 8, wherein the distal portion includes substantially planar sidewalls.

11:

• The surgical access assembly of claim 9, wherein the distal portion includes at least one pair of arcuate sidewalls.

12:

• The surgical access assembly of claim 8, wherein the proximal portion defines a first transverse dimension, and the distal portion defines a second, smaller transverse dimension such that the proximal portion is configured and dimensioned for engagement with the patient's tissue to prevent passage of the access assembly entirely through the intercostal space.

14:

• The method of claim 13, wherein the step of inflating the access assembly includes causing a proximal portion thereof to define a first transverse dimension greater than a second transverse dimension defined by a distal portion thereof such that the proximal portion is configured and dimensioned for engagement with the patient's tissue to prevent passage of the access assembly entirely into the internal work site.

15:

• The method of claim 13, wherein the step of inflating the surgical access assembly includes causing a distal portion thereof to realize a substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration to facilitate conformity with the intercostal space.

16:

• The method of claim 13, wherein the step of inflating the surgical access assembly includes causing the distal portion thereof to define substantially planar sidewalls to maximize available surface area for contact with the patient's tissue.

17:

• The method of claim 15, wherein the step of inflating a surgical access assembly includes causing the distal portion thereof to define at least one pair of arcuate sidewalls.

19:

• The method of claim 18, wherein the step of advancing a surgical access assembly includes advancing a surgical access assembly with an inner liner positioned in contact with the outer liner, wherein the inner liner is formed from a first material, and the outer liner is formed from a second material having a lower durometer than the first material, whereby a passageway to the internal work site is established via an internal space extending longitudinally through the inner liner.

20:

• The method of claim 18, wherein the step of advancing a surgical access assembly includes advancing a surgical access assembly such that a proximal portion thereof is caused to abut the patient's tissue to prevent passage of the access assembly entirely into the internal work site.