Surgical access device with pendent valve

A surgical access device recited

• a valve housing defining a working channel and including a side wall and an end wall;
• a valve module, flexibly coupled solely to a portion of the end wall, the portion of the end wall being perpendicular to the side wall;
• a connector flexibly coupling the valve module solely to the portion of the end wall;
• and
• the end wall of the housing being removable from the sidewall of the housing along with the valve module in order to leave the working channel generally unobstructed;
• wherein the valve module includes a septum valve;
• wherein the valve module further comprises a guiding structure responsive to movement of the instrument to adjust the valve toward a preferred orientation with the instrument;
• wherein the guiding structure comprises a zero valve.

A surgical access device having a working channel adapted to receive a surgical instrument, comprising:

• a valve housing defining working channel and including a side wall and an end wall;
• a valve module, flexibly coupled solely to a portion of the end wall, the portion of the end wall being perpendicular to the side wall;
• a connector flexibly coupling the valve module solely to the portion of the end wall;
• and
• the end wall of the housing being removable from the sidewall of the housing along with the valve module in order to leave the working channel generally unobstructed;
• wherein the connector comprises a bellows.

A surgical device

• a valve housing defining a working channel and including a side wall and an end wall;
• a valve module, flexibly coupled solely to a portion of the end wall the portion of the end wall being perpendicular to the side wall;
• a connector flexible coupling the valve module solely to the portion of the end wall;
• and
• the end wail of the housing being removable from the sidewall of the housing along with the valve module in order to leave the working channel generally unobstructed;
• wherein the valve module further comprises a septum valve, a zero valve and a tube having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end of the tube being coupled to the connector which is solely coupled to the portion of the end wall of the valve housing and the distal end of the tube being coupled to the septum valve and the zero valve.

A surgical access device having a working channel adapted to receive a surgical instrument, comprising:

• a valve housing defining a working channel and including a side wall and an end wall;
• a valve module, flexibly coupled solely to a portion of the end wall, the portion of the end wall being perpendicular to the side wall;
• and
• the end wall of the housing being removable from the sidewall of the housing along with the valve module in order to leave the working channel generally unobstructed;
• wherein the valve module includes a septum valve, a guiding structure responsive to movement of the instrument to adjust the valve toward a preferred orientation with the instrument, the guiding structure including an elongate tube having a diameter and a length not less than the diameter of the tube and the elongate tube further comprises a first tubular member and a second tubular member coaxial with each other.

A surgical device having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end, and having a working channel adapted to receive a surgical instrument, comprising:

• a valve housing disposed along the working channel including a side wall and an end wall;
• a valve assembly disposed in the valve housing and adapted to form an instrument seal with the surgical instrument when the surgical instrument is disposed in the working channel;
• the valve assembly comprising:
• a tube having an elongate configuration with a radial dimension and an axial dimension greater than the radial dimension, the tube defining at least a portion of the working channel in the valve assembly;
• a connector coupling the end wall of the valve housing to the tube, and facilitating pendulous movement of the tube;
• a septum valve carried by the tube and having properties for forming the instrument seal;
• and
• the septum valve being disposed a first distance from the connector, the first distance providing a first lever arm to facilitate movement of the tube and the septum valve in response to the movement of the surgical instrument within the working channel;
• wherein the tube has a diameter and an axial length greater than the diameter.