A surgical access device includes a single valve that forms a seal with a
body wall and provides an access channel into a body cavity. The valve
has properties for creating a zero seal in the absence of an instrument
as well as an instrument seal for an instrument having a diameter up to
about 37 mm. The valve can include a gel material and the access channel
can include a protective sleeve to provide for wound protection during
insertion and withdrawal of a sharp surgical instrument. The valve
further comprises a cap ring which may be inserted or molded with the gel
material. The protective sleeve may be bonded or molded around an inner
diameter of the cap ring. The protective sleeve may be a single tubular
member, or may comprise a plurality of axially extending sleeve members
having a plurality of axial slits. The protective sleeve and the cap ring
may comprise of the same or different materials. The surgical access
device further comprises at least one support ring disposed
circumferentially of the valve forming a hollow space, and a wound
retractor operatively placed in the hollow space. The wound retractor
includes an inner ring, an outer ring, and a flexible sleeve connecting
the inner ring and the outer ring.