Abstract: There is provided an apparatus (10) and method for establishing and maintaining in selectively arrestable manner manuary access to a sufflated body cavity of a patient through a fenestration formed in the patient's body tissue during a minimally invasive surgical procedure. The apparatus (10) generally comprises a seal section (100) and a sheath section (200) coupled thereto. The seal section (100) includes an endless loop portion (110) that defines an opening (120). The sheath section (200) includes a mouth portion (210), an outer glove portion (230), and a pliable intermediate portion (220) extending therebetween. The outer glove portion (230) defines a plurality of extensions to accommodate the digits of a user's hands which are truncated so that they each terminate at a digit opening.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus (10) and method for maintaining manuary access to a sufflated body cavity of a patient through a fenestration formed in the patient's body tissue during a minimally invasive surgical procedure. The apparatus (10) generally comprises a seal section (100) and a sheath section (200) coupled thereto. The seal section (100) includes an endless loop portion (110) that defines an opening (120). The sheath section (200) includes a mouth portion (210), a glove portion (230), and a pliable intermediate portion (220) extending therebetween. The intermediate portion (220) maintains in reconfigurable manner a substantially gas impermeable barrier between the mouth and glove portions (210, 230) when the glove portion (230) is passed through the opening (120) into the body cavity responsive to manuary actuation.