Flexible trocar with an upturning tube system

A flexible surgical trocar assembly having opposite proximal and distal ends, said trocar assembly comprising:

• a) an outer flexible tubular jacket having a through bore which extends from said proximal end to said distal end of said trocar assembly, said outer flexible jacket forming an outer side wall on said trocar assembly;
• b) an inner flexible jacket, said inner flexible jacket having a through bore which extends from said proximal end to said distal end of said trocar assembly, said inner flexible jacket being disposed in said through bore of said outer flexible jacket, said outer and inner flexible jackets combining to form an intervening annular space which extends from said proximal end to said distal end of said trocar assembly;
• c) a plurality of surgical instrumentalities disposed in said annular space, at least some of said surgical instrumentalities extending from said proximal end to said distal end of said trocar assembly;
• d) an invertible drive tube disposed about said outer flexible jacket, said invertible drive tube including a proximal inversion end, a distal inversion end, an inner wall which contacts said outer flexible jacket, and an outer wall which is outwardly spaced from said inner wall;
• e) a distal clamping collar which is fixed to said outer flexible jacket and which is contacted by said distal inversion end of said invertible drive tube;
• f) a proximal clamping collar which is fixed to said outer flexible jacket and which is contacted by said proximal inversion end of said invertible drive tube;
• and
• g) a drive mechanism contacting said inner wall of said invertible drive tube, said drive mechanism being selectively operable to move said inner wall of said invertible drive tube in the distal direction, or in the proximal direction, whereby said distal inversion and said proximal inversion ends of said invertible drive tube are selectively moved against said distal or proximal clamping collars, respectively, so as to selectively move the flexible jackets in the distal and proximal directions.