Powered variable seal diameter trocar employing a longitudinal displacement mechanism

A surgical portal apparatus for permitting access to a tissue site, which comprises:

• a portal member dimensioned for positioning within body tissue and defining a longitudinal axis, the portal member having a longitudinal passageway therethrough providing access to a tissue site;
• a septum seal member mounted to the portal member, the septum seal member having an orifice therethrough, the orifice having a diameter dependent upon a longitudinal dimension of the septum seal member;
• a pair of compression members longitudinally disposed on opposite sides of the septum seal member, each compression member having a pressure face for contacting the septum seal member;
• a longitudinal displacement mechanism, the longitudinal displacement mechanism adapted to produce relative motion between the compression members such that the longitudinal dimension of the septum seal member is altered to vary the diameter of the orifice;
• and
• a toggle switch operatively coupled to the longitudinal displacement mechanism such that the toggle switch is movable from a first position in which the longitudinal displacement mechanism permits the compression members to remain in a longitudinally separated relation and a second position in which the longitudinal displacement mechanism induces the compression members to move to a relatively longitudinally approximated relation.