摘要 |
A surgical access apparatus for use during a surgical procedure for passing through tissue to an underlying surgical area is provided. The surgical access apparatus includes a vibration source connected to a seal member located in an internal passage of an access member. The seal is configured to form a substantial sealing relation with an inserted surgical instrument and substantially close in the absence of the surgical instrument. The vibration source causes the seal to vibrate, in order to decrease the force needed to insert the surgical instrument. The source of vibration may be one of the following: a rotating eccentric mass, mass moving in a linear path, exciting a piezoelectric, a crystal, or an electro active polymer capable of expanding or contracting.
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