A surgical access apparatus includes a housing member, a portal member extending from the housing member and defining a central longitudinal axis, and defining a longitudinal passage therethrough dimensioned to permit passage of an surgical object and a constraining mechanism associated with at least one of the housing member and the portal member. The constraining mechanism includes a constraining member dimensioned and positioned to intersect the longitudinal passage. The constraining member is adapted to engage the surgical object and bias the surgical object toward a position radially displaced relative to the central longitudinal axis. The constraining member is adapted to transition from an initial condition in the absence of the surgical object to a stressed condition in the presence of the surgical object. The constraining member may be normally biased toward the initial condition.
