Expandable thoracic access port

A method of accessing an internal cavity of a patient, comprising:

• forming an opening in the patient's tissue;
• providing an access assembly including:
• a body including first and second body members, each of the first and second body members including an opposed side, an outer side, a leading end and a trailing end, the first and second body members coupled to one another by a connector, the first and second body members moveable with respect to one another between an approximated position, wherein the opposed sides of the first and second body members are closer to one another, and a spread position, wherein the opposed sides of the first and second body members are flexed outwardly and apart from one another to define a passageway therebetween;
• a flexible membrane coupled to the first and second body members and extending therefrom, such that translating the flexible membrane radially outwardly moves the body members from the approximated to the spread position;
• and
• an adjustable member including an adjustable ring coupled to a proximal end of the flexible membrane;
• inserting the access assembly through the opening in the approximated position such that the body of the access assembly is positioned within an intercostal space defined between adjacent ribs of the patient and such that the flexible membrane extends proximally from the opening;
• rotating the access assembly such that the opposed sides of the first and second body members are aligned with the opening;
• and
• moving the adjustable ring from a first position, wherein the adjustable ring defines a minimum diameter, to a second position, wherein the adjustable ring defines a larger diameter to translate the flexible membrane radially outwardly and move the opposed sides of the first and second body members from the approximated position to the spread position, thereby expanding the intercostal space.

A method of accessing an internal cavity of a patient, comprising:

• forming an opening in the patient's tissue;
• positioning a body of an access assembly within the opening;
• and
• expanding an adjustable ring to apply tension to a membrane extending between the adjustable ring and the body of the access assembly, thereby separating first and second members of the body to define a passageway extending through the access assembly.