Importance

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Abstract

A surgical access assembly including a housing, an elongate access member extending from the housing, an instrument seal disposed within the housing and a zero closure valve mounted relative to the housing. The closure valve includes a valve periphery and first and second lips depending from the valve periphery. Each lip includes a lip edge surface in juxtaposed relation to define a slit when the valve is in a closed position thereof. Each lip has a general arcuate internal lip surface leading to the lip edge surface to define a sloping configuration dimensioned to facilitate passage of a surgical instrument through the valve. Each of the lips includes a support rib depending from the internal lip surface, the support ribs defining a gap therebetween to be in spaced relation when the valve is in the closed position and being positioned to contact the surgical instrument during insertion through the lips.

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First Claim