# US 2014/0194821 A1 · Instrument seal > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0194821 A1 - Document ID: US20140194821A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/205,727 - Filed: 2014-03-12 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2008-03-14 - Assignees: Applied Medical Resources Corporation - Applicants: Applied Medical Resources Corporation - Inventors: Jeremy J. Albrecht; John R. Brustad; Gary M. Johnson; Matthew M. Becerra; Eric Nguyen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194821A1 ## CPC - A61B 17/3462: {with means for changing the diameter or the orientation of the entrance port of the cannula, e.g. for use with different-sized instruments, reduction ports, adapter seals (expandable cannulas A61B17/3417)} - A61B 17/3421: {Cannulas} - A61B 2017/3464: {with means acting on inner surface of valve or seal for expanding or protecting, e.g. inner pivoting fingers} - A61M 2039/0633: {the seal being a passive seal made of a resilient material with or without an opening} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A surgical access port comprises a valve or instrument seal that separates the instrument contact function from the instrument conforming function. Embodiments of the instrument seal comprise in instrument contact element that extends through an opening in a compression element, thereby defining an instrument orifice that seals with an instrument extending therethrough. Embodiments of the instrument contact element comprise a non-distensible membrane or film, for example, as a tube or cylinder. ## Claims ### Claim 1 (canceled) ### Claim 2 A surgical access device comprising: a seal housing; a compression element disposed in the seal housing; and a non-distensible instrument contact element extending through an opening in the compression element and a distal end of the instrument contact element disposed below the opening being secured to a ring, the ring being a separate component from the instrument contact element and the ring arranged to move freely within the seal housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The surgical access device of claim 2 wherein the instrument contact element comprises at least one slit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The surgical access device of claim 2 wherein the compression element is a zero seal in the absence of an instrument extending through the instrument contact element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The surgical access device of claim 2 wherein the compression element is disc-shaped. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The surgical access device of claim 2 wherein in the absence of an instrument extending through the instrument contact element, the instrument contact element at the opening in the compression element comprises a plurality of folds. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The surgical access device of claim 2 wherein in the presence of an instrument extending through the instrument contact element and the opening of the compression element, the instrument contact element seals against the instrument and spaces the instrument from the compression element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The surgical access device of claim 2 wherein a proximal end of the instrument contact element above the opening is coupled to an inner wall of the compression element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The surgical access device of claim 2 wherein the instrument contact element comprises a polyolefin film ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The surgical access device of claim 2 further comprising a cannula extending from the seal housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The surgical access device of claim 2 further comprising a stop limiting proximal movement of the ring. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The surgical access device of claim 2 further comprising a tensioning element urging the ring distally. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The surgical access device of claim 2 wherein the instrument contact element has a proximal end secured to a proximal end of the compression element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The surgical access device of claim 2 further comprising a zero seal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) The surgical access device of claim 2 wherein the compression element has tethers arranged to secure the compression element to the seal housing. ### Claim 16 A surgical access device comprising: a seal housing; a compression element disposed in the seal housing; and a non-distensible instrument contact element extending through an opening in the compression element and a distal end of the instrument contact element disposed below the opening, the distal end of the instrument contact element and the compression element arranged to move freely within the seal housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The surgical access device of claim 16 wherein the opening in the compression element has a plurality of slits. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The surgical access device of claim 16 wherein the instrument contact element is cylindrical in an unconstrained state. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The surgical access device of claim 16 wherein the seal housing, compression element and instrument contact element are arranged to accommodate instruments with diameters from about 4.5 mm to about 15.4 mm. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The surgical access device of claim 16 wherein the seal housing, compression element and instrument contact element are arranged to accommodate a surgeon's hand.