Importance

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Abstract

An endoscopic portal for establishing communication with a body cavity for the introduction of instruments through the endoscopic portal includes a seal having a variable size passage for communication with the body cavity to permit instruments of varying sizes to be passed therethrough and a tubular expander aligned with the variable size passage. The seal is biased to a contracted position wherein the variable size passage has a first cross sectional size and is movable to an expanded position wherein the variable size passage has a second cross sectional size larger than the first cross sectional size. The tubular expander has a blunt end insertable in the variable size passage to move the seal from the contracted position to the expanded position such that an instrument having a cross sectional size larger than the first cross sectional size can be introduced through the expander and the seal into the body cavity without contacting the seal. Thereafter, the blunt end of the tubular expander is withdrawable from the variable size passage such that the seal engages the instrument in the variable size passage to form a seal therewith. A method of introducing an instrument in a body cavity according to the present invention comprises the steps of moving a blunt end of a tubular expander into a variable size seal to enlarge the variable size seal, introducing an instrument through the tubular expander into the body cavity such that a distal end of the instrument is moved through the seal without contacting the seal and withdrawing the blunt end of the tubular expander from the seal such that the seal sealingly engages the instrument.

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First Claim