Universal seal for use with endoscopic cannula

A surgical access cannula for permitting access to body tissue, which comprises:

• a cannula member positionable within body tissue and defining a longitudinal axis, the cannula member having a longitudinal opening to permit passage of an object;
• and
• a monolithic seal mounted within the cannula member, the monolithic seal including:
• a first generally planar seal membrane;
• a second generally planar seal membrane longitudinally spaced from the first seal membrane, each of the first and second seal membranes having inner surfaces defining an aperture for receiving the object, the inner surfaces dimensioned and positioned to transition between a first position corresponding to an open condition of the aperture in the absence of the object and a second position to engage the object in substantial sealed relation therewith;
• a connecting ring interconnecting the first seal membrane and the second seal membrane;
• and
• an enclosed annular bladder disposed radially outward from the connecting ring.

A surgical access instrument for permitting access to body tissue, which comprises:

• a cannula positionable within body tissue, the cannula having an opening extending therethrough to access the body tissue and permit passage of an object therethrough, the cannula defining a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis;
• a seal housing located about the proximal end of the cannula, the seal housing including internal opposing surfaces;
• and
• a monolithically formed sealing member mounted within the seal housing, the sealing member including an outer ring, an outer seal portion, an inner ring, and an inner seal portion;
• the outer portion extending radially inward from the outer ring, the inner ring being radially spaced inward from the outer ring and connecting the outer seal portion to the inner seal portion, the inner seal portion extending radially inward from the inner ring, the inner seal portion including a first seal membrane and a second membrane, the first membrane extending radially inward from the inner ring, the second seal membrane extending radially inward from the inner ring at a longitudinally spaced distance from the first seal membrane and in general longitudinal alignment therewith, the inner ring connecting the first seal membrane and the second seal membrane, the inner ring having opposed surfaces in sliding contacting relation with the internal opposing surfaces of the seal housing, the first seal membrane and the second seal membrane each having inner surfaces defining open passageways for reception and passage of the object, the first and second seal membranes adapted to engage in substantially sealed relation therewith, the outer portion being adapted to bias the passageways of the inner seal portion to be generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cannula while permitting movement of the passageways of the inner seal portion in a lateral direction with respect to the longitudinal axis upon offset manipulation of the object.