Expandable thoracic access port

Abstract

A surgical access assembly includes a body having first and second body members. Each body member has an opposed side and an outer side. The body members are coupled to one another by a connector and are moveable with respect to one another between an approximated position and a spread position wherein the opposed sides are flexed outwardly and apart from one another to define a passageway therebetween. A flexible membrane is coupled to the first and second body members and extends therefrom such that translating the flexible membrane radially outwardly moves the body members from the approximated position to the spread position.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A surgical access assembly comprising:
 a body including first and second body members coupled by a connector, each of the first and second body members including an opposed side moveable between an approximated position in which the opposed sides of the first and second body members are positioned adjacent one another and a spread position in which the opposed sides of the first and second body members define a passageway therebetween; and   an adjustable ring operably coupled to each of the first and second body members and selectively adjustable from a first position to a second position to move the opposed sides of the first and second body members from the approximated position to the spread position.   
     
     
         22 . The surgical access assembly according to  claim 21 , including a flexible membrane connecting the first and second body members with the adjustable ring such that movement of the adjustable ring from the first position to the second position draws the flexible membrane radially outwardly to move the opposed sides of the first and second body members from the approximated position to the spread position. 
     
     
         23 . The surgical access assembly according to claim  0 , wherein the flexible membrane is configured to extend from an outer side of the first body member to an outer side of the second body member. 
     
     
         24 . The surgical access assembly according to claim  0 , wherein the outer side of each of the first and second body members includes cushioning configured to protect surrounding tissue when the first and second body members are disposed through an opening in tissue. 
     
     
         25 . The surgical access assembly according to  claim 21 , including a ribbon coupled to the connector and configured to manipulate positioning of the first and second body members. 
     
     
         26 . The surgical access assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein each of the first and second body members includes a leading end and a trailing end, and wherein the connector is connected to the leading ends of the first and second body members. 
     
     
         27 . The surgical access assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the opposed sides of the first and second body members are biased toward the approximated position. 
     
     
         28 . The surgical access assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the adjustable ring includes overlapping end segments, the overlapping end segments having cooperating structure to releasably retain the adjustable ring in a plurality of positions between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         29 . The surgical access assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the adjustable ring has a first diameter in the first position and a second diameter larger than the first diameter in the second position. 
     
     
         30 . A surgical access assembly comprising:
 a first body member having a first inner side;   a second body member having a second inner side opposing the first inner side, the first and second body members configured for relative movement to selectively adjust a dimension of a passageway defined between the first and second inner sides; and   a ring operably coupled to each of the first and second body members and being configured to control the relative movement of the first and second body members.   
     
     
         31 . The surgical access assembly according to  claim 30 , including a flexible membrane connecting the first and second body members with the ring. 
     
     
         32 . The surgical access assembly according to  claim 31 , wherein the flexible membrane is configured to extend from an outer side of the first body member to an outer side of the second body member. 
     
     
         33 . The surgical access assembly according to  claim 30 , wherein the first and second body members are configured for relative movement between an approximated position defining a first dimension of the passageway and a spread position defining a second dimension of the passageway greater than the first dimension. 
     
     
         34 . The surgical access assembly according to  claim 33 , including a connector extending between and coupling the first and second body members. 
     
     
         35 . The surgical access assembly according to  claim 34 , wherein the first and second body members are normally biased toward the approximated position. 
     
     
         36 . The surgical access assembly according to  claim 34 , including a ribbon coupled to the connector and configured to manipulate the position of the surgical access assembly. 
     
     
         37 . The surgical access assembly according to  claim 34 , wherein each of the first and second body members includes a leading end and a trailing end, and wherein the connector is connected to the leading ends of the first and second body members. 
     
     
         38 . The surgical assembly according to claim  0 , wherein the ring includes a first end operably coupled with the first body member and a second end operably coupled with the second body member, the first and second ends overlapping one another and engagable with one another to retain the ring in a plurality of positions between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         39 . The surgical assembly according to  claim 38 , wherein the ring includes a ratcheting mechanism to retain the ring in the plurality of positions. 
     
     
         40 . The surgical assembly according to  claim 30 , wherein the ring has a first diameter in the first position and a second diameter larger than the first diameter in the second position.