What is claimed is:
1. A seal assembly 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; and
a fabric layer juxtaposed relative to the resilient material.
2. A seal assembly for reception of an elongated surgical instrument according to claim 1, which further comprises a coating applied to the seal member to reduce friction between the seal member and surgical instrumentation inserted therein.
3. A seal assembly for reception of an elongated surgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein the coating is a hydrocyclosiloxane membrane prepared by plasma polymerization process.
4. A seal assembly for reception of an elongated surgical instrument according to claim 1, which further comprises a ring member secured to the seal member and having a dampening element disposed between a surface of the ring, member and a surface of the body.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A device for neutralizing an object at least partly covered with sediment in a fluid medium, the device comprising:
a body;
a sediment displacing unit mounted on the body, wherein the sediment displacing unit is configured to interact with the fluid medium andor the sediment to displace the sediment covering the object; and
a neutralizing unit mounted on the body and configured to neutralize the object;
wherein the neutralizing device includes an explosive device.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the object is a mine.
3. A device for neutralizing an object at least partly covered with sediment in a fluid medium, the device comprising:
a body;
a sediment displacing unit mounted on the body, wherein the sediment displacing unit is configured to interact with the fluid medium andor the sediment to displace the sediment covering the object; and
a neutralizing unit mounted on the body and configured to neutralize the object;
wherein the neutralizing device is adapted to neutralize the object by electrically treating the object by applying an electric charge or current to the object.
4. The device of claim 3 wherein the object is a mine.
5. A device for neutralizing an object at least partly covered with sediment in a fluid medium, the device comprising:
a body;
a sediment displacing unit mounted on the body, wherein the sediment displacing unit is configured to interact with the fluid medium andor the sediment to displace the sediment covering the object; and
a neutralizing unit mounted on the body and configured to neutralize the object;
wherein the neutralizing device is adapted to neutralize the object by magnetically treating the object.
6. The device of claim 5 wherein the neutralizing device is adapted to neutralize the object by magnetically treating the object by generating an magnetic signal the magnetic signal including an electromagnetic pulse.
7. The device of claim 5 wherein the object is a mine.
8. A device for neutralizing an object at least partly covered with sediment in a fluid medium, the device comprising:
a body;
a sediment displacing unit mounted on the body, wherein the sediment displacing unit is configured to interact with the fluid medium andor the sediment to displace the sediment covering the object; and
a neutralizing unit mounted on the body and configured to neutralize the object;
wherein the neutralizing device is adapted to neutralize the object by triggering self-destruction of the object.
9. The device of claim 8 wherein the neutralizing device is adapted to neutralize the object by triggering self-destruction of the object using at least one of an electromagnetic treatment and generation of a signal detectable by the object.
10. The device of claim 9 wherein the neutralizing device is adapted to neutralize the object by triggering self-destruction of the object using generation of a signal detectable by the object.
11. The device of claim 10 wherein the signal detectable by the object includes at least one of a vibration signal, an acoustic signal, and an electromagnetic signal.
12. The device of claim 8 wherein the object is a mine.
13. A device for neutralizing an object at least partly covered with sediment in a fluid medium, the device comprising:
a body;
a sediment displacing unit mounted on the body, wherein the sediment displacing unit is configured to interact with the fluid medium andor the sediment to displace the sediment covering the object; and
a neutralizing unit mounted on the body and configured to neutralize the object;
wherein the device is adapted to at least partly bury the neutralizing unit.
14. The device of claim 13 wherein:
the sediment displacing unit is configured to fluidize the sediment; and
the device is adapted to insert the neutralizing unit into the fluidized sediment.
15. The device of claim 13 wherein the neutralizing unit includes an explosive charge.
16. The device of claim 13 wherein the object is a mine.
17. A device for neutralizing an object at least partly covered with sediment in a fluid medium, the device comprising:
a body;
a sediment displacing unit mounted on the body, wherein the sediment displacing unit is configured to interact with the fluid medium andor the sediment to displace the sediment covering the object, the sediment displacing unit including:
a selectively extendable tube having a current outlet; and
a pump configured to direct the fluid medium through the tube and
away from the sediment displacing unit through the current outlet; and
a neutralizing unit mounted on the body and configured to neutralize the object.
18. The device of claim 17 wherein the sediment displacing unit includes an extending mechanism operative to extend the tube.
19. The device of claim 17 wherein the sediment displacing unit is configured to fluidize the sediment.
20. The device of claim 17 wherein:
the sediment displacing unit is configured to fluidize the sediment; and
the device is adapted to insert the neutralizing unit into the fluidized sediment.
21. The device of claim 17 wherein the object is a mine.