Self-sealing cannula

Claim 1

A self sealing cannula for insufflatory surgical procedures wherein an operative body cavity is maintained under gas pressure during said surgical procedure, said cannula comprising an elongated sleeve having a cannula passage constructed for receiving surgical instruments therethrough and for penetrating into said operative body cavity to facilitate insertion and withdrawal of a surgical instrument while retaining said cannula in situ and while retaining gas pressure in said body cavity notwithstanding withdrawal of said surgical instrument, said cannula having a valve seat coaxially disposed about the cannula passage through which said surgical instrument is adapted to extend, an elastomeric valve positioned against the valve seat in a position to block said passage, said elastomeric valve having a slotted portion positioned along said cannula passage in a position to be penetrated by said surgical instrument upon insertion thereof, and having sufficient elasticity to yield to permit such insertion, and compression means carried by said cannula and positioned to apply inwardly directed pressure to said elastomeric valve to compress the elastomeric valve inwardly toward said slotted portion thereof for sealing the cannula passage against outward flow of said pressurized gas therethrough after withdrawal of said surgical instrument from said cannula passage.