A seal assembly is provided for reception of an elongated surgical
instrument, which comprises a body having at least one opening configured
and dimensioned to permit entry of an elongated surgical instrument and
defining a central longitudinal axis; a seal member formed of a resilient
material and defining an aperture therein, the aperture being configured
and dimensioned such that insertion of the surgical instrument into the
aperture causes the resilient material defining the aperture to
resiliently contact the outer surface of the surgical instrument in a
substantially fluid tight manner, the seal member further including a
peripheral flange element which contacts a surface of the body to form a
contact seal therewith; and a fabric layer juxtaposed relative to the
resilient material. The seal assembly may further include a coating
applied to the seal member to reduce friction between the seal member and
surgical instrumentation inserted therein. The coating is preferably a
hydrocyclosiloxane membrane prepared by plasma polymerization process.