Endoscopic surgical access devices and methods of articulating an external accessory channel

An endoscopic surgical access device, comprising:

• an accessory channel member having a proximal first end, a flexible distal second end, an intermediate section intermediate the first and second ends, and a tool receiving lumen;
• a support body having a guide portion and a base, the guide portion having proximal and distal openings and defining a passageway configured to slidably receive the accessory channel member, the base having an insert abutting face intermediate a pair of projections;
• an articulating main body having a first body, a second body having an accessory channel member passageway that contains the accessory channel member distal second end, and a coupler having a mounting member comprising an axis and an articulation link member comprising an axis, the mounting member and articulation link member configured to articulatively join the second body to the first body about a common single point of articulation defined by an intersection of the mounting member axis and the articulation link member axis such that the second body has at least two degrees of and rotational freedom about the common single point of articulation relative to a first body longitudinal axis;
• and
• an actuator located at or near the articulating main body, wherein the actuator is configured to articulate the second body relative to the first body such that the second body articulates relative to the first body.

A method of orienting an endoscopic surgical access device, comprising:

• providing an endoscopic surgical access device comprising an articulating main body having a stationary first body, an articulatable second body, and a coupler comprising a mounting member and an articulation link member, the mounting member comprising an axis and the articulation link member comprising an axis that intersect at a point of articulation, the coupler articulatively joining the second body to the first body such that the second body has at least two degrees of rotational freedom about the point of articulation and such that the second body is capable of articulating in at least two of x, y, and z coordinates the first body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a first longitudinal axis, the second body having a proximal opening and a distal opening defining an accessory channel member passageway, the distal opening of a distal end of the second body having a second longitudinal axis oriented toward a space exterior to the first body distal end;
• detachably engaging the first body to a distal end portion of an endoscope insertion section;
• and
• articulating the second body in at least two of x, y, and z coordinates relative to the first body,
• whereby any flexible endoscopic tool insertable within the second body accessory channel member passageway is movable in at least two of x, y, and z coordinates relative to the first body in response to the articulating second body.