Access assembly having undercut structure

#1. Technical field

#The present disclosure relates to access assemblies for use in surgical procedures. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to access assemblies having an undercut structure.

#2. Background of Related Art

#Embodiments of a flexible access assembly are disclosed herein with reference to the drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an access assembly according to the present disclosure;

#FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the access assembly of FIG. 1;

#Embodiments of the presently disclosed access assembly will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings wherein like numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views. As is common in the art, the term “proximal” refers to that part or component closer to the user or operator, e.g. surgeon or physician, while the term “distal” refers to that part or component further away from the user. Although the access assemblies of the present disclosure will be described as relates to accessing an abdominal cavity through an incision in the abdominal wall, the access assemblies of the present disclosure may be modified for use in other closed procedures, e.g., laparoscopic, arthroscopic, endoscopic. Furthermore, the access assemblies of the present disclosure may be modified for use in accessing internal cavities through natural orifices, e.g., anus, vagina.

#Referring initially to FIG. 1, an access assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown generally as access assembly 100. Access assembly 100 is configured for insertion through an opening in tissue, e.g., an incision, such that after insertion, access assembly 100 creates a seal within the opening through which a surgeon may insert and manipulate one or more surgical instruments to complete a procedure.

#With reference to FIGS. 1-3, access assembly 100 includes an outer tissue seal or sleeve 110 and an inner support plate or disk 120. Sleeve 110 and support disk 120 may be formed of various materials, such as, for example, silicone, thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), rubber, foam, gel, etc. Sleeve 110 and support plate 120 may be constructed from the same or different materials. In one embodiment, sleeve 110 is formed of a TPE material that is infused with an inert gas, e.g. CO2 or Nitrogen, to form a foam structure, and inner support plate 120 is formed of a substantially rigid thermoplastic elastomer, to form a substantially solid support structure.