The invention is directed to a hand access
system that provides hand access to a surgical area while maintaining
pneumoperitoneum during
laparoscopic surgery. The hand access
system comprises a sheath
retractor adapted to dilate a wound stretchable to a desired
diameter, the sheath
retractor includes a first ring being adapted for disposition interiorly of the wound, a second ring being adapted for disposition exteriorly of the wound, and a sheath being disposed in a generally cylindrical form between the first ring and the second ring and operable to exert a radial retraction force on the wound. The hand access
system further comprises a detachable hand seal adapted to be removable from the second ring of the sheath
retractor. The sheath retractor may be formed of an elastomeric material, and the hand seal may be formed of a gel material and includes a slit providing an instrument seal in the presence of an instrument or hand and a zero seal in the absence of the instrument or hand. In another aspect, there is disclosed a
surgical access device adapted for disposition relative to an incision in a patient comprising a valve including a plurality of overlapping sheets defining an access channel, and a ring having an inner
diameter for holding the valve by fixing each of the overlapping sheets along a portion of the perimeter, the access channel extends into communication with the incision in the patient. Each of the overlapping sheets includes a portion of the perimeter that is not fixed to the inner
diameter of the ring, which provide open edges defining the access channel. The open edges slightly overlap at the center of the ring. The open edges may have different shapes including at least one of a straight edge, concave, convex and a cross-configuration. The hand access device may further comprise a septum seal formed at the proximal and distal ends of the ring.