Endoscopic access assembly

An access assembly for providing a passage for a surgical instrument and maintaining insufflation of a body cavity during an endoscopic surgical procedure, said assembly comprising:

• a) a base having a flange and a neck extending from said flange, said flange having a flange opening therein, and said neck having a longitudinal lumen extending therethrough in communication with said flange opening;
• b) an elastomeric sealing element having an elongated central channel and an outer inflatable sleeve, said channel having proximal and distal ends, said proximal end affixed to said flange and extending through said flange opening and neck lumen, said channel defining a passageway from said flange opening into said body cavity for receiving an endoscopic surgical instrument therethrough, said outer inflatable sleeve having a proximal tubular portion affixed to said neck and a distal balloon portion coterminous with said channel distal end, said inner channel and said outer sleeve defining an inflation space between said inner channel and said outer sleeve;
• and
• c) a conduit in fluid communication with said inflation space, wherein when an inflation fluid is delivered through said conduit into said inflation space, said distal balloon portion is inflated and said inner channel is compressed so as to constrict said channel passageway.