Cannula devices, systems, and methods are provided for introducing one or more instruments into a patient's body to perform a procedure. In one example, the cannula device includes first and second housings defining a throughbore, and a plurality of elongate members extending distally from the housings, the elongate members cooperatively defining a passage axially aligned with the throughbore between proximal ends and distal tips of the elongate members. The first housing is moveable in an axial direction with respect to the second housing to cause the proximal ends of the elongate members to move outwardly to increase a size of the passage and, optionally, may taper when expanded. Optionally, one or more secondary devices, e.g., an obturator with a sharpened tip, or an obturator and tubular access device may be provided that may be inserted through the throughbore into the passage before expansion of the passage.

Various devices and methods are provided with respect to inserting multiple surgical instruments through a single surgical access device. A medical device including a flexible tissue retractor a releasable insert having multiple instrument openings, and a member such as a sleeve is disclosed. The insert can be in the form of an insert assembly including multiple components. The sleeve can support the insert with respect to the retractor such that the insert and sleeve can be removed together with the retractor remaining in the incision. A method of using the insert is also described.

An example assembly for use with a vacuum system and an esophageal positioning device esophageal positioning device includes an introducer, in which the esophageal positioning device includes a first segment and a second segment. The second segment is pivotally connected to the first segment. A gap portion of an outer tube of the introducer is defined along a longitudinal axis between a tube tip of the introducer and the distal end of the second segment of the esophageal positioning device when the esophageal positioning device is disposed within the introducer. The gap portion defines one or more radial vacuum holes.

Embodiments of a surgical access port system that comprises a retractor that is adapted for being coupled to a cap and that is particularly useful in natural orifice surgery are described. The retractor comprises an outer ring, wherein the outer ring is configured to be disposed proximate the natural orifice of the patient and substantially surround the orifice; a tubular body; a funnel segment extending between and coupling the outer ring and the tubular body, wherein the funnel segment provides a diametric reduction between the relatively large diameter of the outer ring and the relatively smaller diameter of the tubular body, which is sized to fit within a natural orifice with minimal distention of the orifice; and an inflatable member disposed around the distal end of the tubular body, the inflatable member sized and configured to fit snugly around the tubular body in the deflated condition and to expand against the wall of the natural orifice in the inflated state to thereby stabilize and retain the retractor within the orifice.

Method and apparatuses for providing access to a body cavity of a living animal through an access port inserted in an incision made in a wall of the body cavity are disclosed. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a cap configured to attach to the access port, the cap including an opening configured to permit insertion of a medical instrument through the cap and access port into the body cavity, and a tubular sleeve including a distal end sealingly connected at the opening and extending outwardly therefrom, the sleeve including a proximal end configured to receive and provide a seal with the medical instrument when received. The apparatus also includes a closure disposed to temporarily seal the sleeve prior to insertion of the medical instrument through the opening in the cap.

The present invention relates to surgical access devices (or surgical access ports) and related methods. More particularly, the present invention relates to such devices that are advantageously adapted for use in single-incision laparoscopic surgical (“SILS”) procedures The present invention also relates to kits and methods involving such surgical access devices.

A dilating cannula includes a radially expandable flange and an expandable shaft. The radially expandable flange is disposed at a proximal end portion of the dilating cannula and includes two or more sectors that are each independently movable. The expandable shaft extends from the proximal end portion to a distal end portion of the dilating cannula and defines an inner passageway of the dilating cannula and includes two or more arms. A first branch of the two or more arms extends from one end of the base section and a second branch of the two or more arms extends from another end of the base section. The first branch is connected to a first sector of the two or more sectors of the radially expandable flange and the second branch is connected to a second, different sector of the two or more sectors of the radially expandable flange.

A guard for providing a cut-resistant pathway through a body orifice or incision to circumferentially protect tissue at the margin is provided. The guard is made of flexible, cut-resistant mesh material having a plurality of interwoven thermosoftening filaments. The guard has a central lumen and at least one flared end. The flared end, which serves to anchor the guard in the body opening, is deformable into a reduced configuration to facilitate its insertion and removal. The layer of mesh stretches laterally to increase the diameter of the central lumen. The flexibility and expandability of the guard allows the guard to conform to body openings of different sizes. The guard may include a drawstring to cinch the flared distal end from the proximal end. The guard is thermoset with the flared distal end that is biased to spring back to its normal, undeformed configuration when released from a deformed configuration.

A surgical sheath for use in endoscopic trans-nasal or intra-ocular surgery is made of a braid material. The sheath may be manufactured by placing a length of braided tube material over a mandrel. The braid material is conformed to the shape of the mandrel and is then heat set. An atraumatic end may be made by folding or rolling one or both ends of the sheath. A coating may also optionally be applied to the braid material. The sheath reduces collateral trauma to the tissues in the surgical pathway.

Devices, systems, and methods for delivering prosthesis implants into surgically-created implant pockets in a subject and for preventing capsular contracture resulting from surgical insertion of prosthesis implants. The device may include a delivery member operable to wrap around the implant thereby forming a conforming cavity around the implant that conforms to the shape of the implant. The delivery member is also operable to propel the implant from the conforming cavity into the implant pocket in the subject upon the application of mechanical force to the delivery member. The device also includes a shielding member coupled with the delivery member. The shielding member is operable to shield the implant from at least a portion of the dissection tunnel connecting the incision to the implant pocket during delivery of the implant to the implant pocket. The device is capable of shielding the implant from microbial contamination, including contamination by the endogenous flora of the subject, during delivery of the implant into the surgically-created implant pocket.