Device, surgical access port, and method of retracting an incision into an opening and providing a channel through the incision

A surgical access port, for use with a surgical glove, comprising:

• a device for retracting the edges of a surgical incision to form an opening into a patient's body cavity;
• a sealing sleeve attached to the device external to the body cavity, wherein the sealing sleeve comprises,
• a flexible sleeve providing a channel from its open end distal to the retracting device through to the opening, and
• a sealing collar attached to the sleeve and surrounding the open end;
• and
• a semi-rigid bracelet separable from the glove and having a fixed diameter that releasably mates with the sealing collar, the bracelet being configured to fasten a portion of the glove to the sealing collar when worn beneath the glove and mated to the sealing collar.

A surgical access port comprising:

• a device for retracting the edges of a surgical incision to form an opening into a patient's body cavity, the retracting device comprising an upper portion for overlying tissue surrounding the incision, a lower portion for underlying the tissue surrounding the incision, and a flexible skirt connecting the upper and lower portion, all of which permit the retracting device to form a gas-tight seal with the edges of the incision;
• and
• a sealing sleeve attached to the device external to the body cavity, wherein the sealing sleeve comprises:
• a flexible sleeve providing a channel from its open end distal to the retracting device through to the opening;
• and
• drawstrings connected to the flexible sleeve for sealing the channel.

A surgical access port comprising:

• a device for retracting the edges of a surgical incision to form an opening into a patient's body cavity;
• and
• a sealing sleeve attached to the device external to the body cavity, wherein the sealing sleeve comprises:
• a flexible sleeve providing a channel from its open end distal to the retracting device through to the opening;
• drawstrings connected to the flexible sleeve for sealing the channel;
• and an outer sleeve surrounding the flexible sleeve and forming a chamber therebetween, and an inlet port for inflating the chamber, whereby inflating the chamber compresses together a central portion of the flexible sleeve, thereby sealing the channel, and wherein the drawstrings attach to opposite sides of the central portion of the flexible sleeve.

A surgical access port comprising:

• a device for retracting the edges of a surgical incision to form an opening into a patient's body cavity;
• and
• a sealing sleeve attached to the device external to the body cavity, wherein the sealing sleeve comprises:
• a flexible sleeve providing a channel from its open end distal to the retracting device through to the opening;
• drawstrings connected to the flexible sleeve for sealing the channel;
• and a flap valve that connects to the open end of the flexible sleeve and extends into the channel, wherein the flap valve seals the channel when there is a positive pressure differential between the channel and the surroundings, and wherein the drawstrings attach to opposite ends of the flap valve to enhance the sealing ability of the flap valve.

A device for retracting edges of an incision in a surface to form an open channel, the device comprising:

• an upper toroidal portion for positioning above the surface around the incision, the upper toroidal portion defining and enclosing an inflatable, sealed interior;
• a lower portion insertable through the incision and orientable to underlie the surface beneath the incision;
• and
• a flexible, gas-tight tubular skirt having an upper end connected to the upper toroidal portion and a lower end connected to the lower portion, wherein during use the lower portion maintains the lower end in an open configuration, the upper toroidal portion, lower portion, and skirt defining an open channel extending through the incision, the channel having side-walls that are gas impermeable.

A method of retracting an incision into an opening and providing a channel through the incision, the channel having gas-impermeable sides and the method comprising:

• inserting a ring at one end of a gas-tight tubular skirt through the incision and orienting the ring to underlie and contact tissue surrounding the incision;
• orientating a toroidal upper portion at an opposite end of the gas-tight tubular skirt to overlie and contact tissue surrounding the incision;
• and
• expanding the toroidal upper portion, while maintaining the contact between the toroidal upper portion and the tissue surrounding the incision, to thereby draw the skirt outward from the incision, retract the incision into an opening, and provide the channel through the incision.