A surgical seal assembly (100), includes a seal housing (102) defining a longitudinal housing axis (b) and having a longitudinal opening (104) therethrough, a seal (118) having an inner seal portion (120) defining a passage and being adapted to form a substantial seal about a surgical instrument disposed within the passage and a guide (124) mounted to the seal housing. The guide (124) has an inner guide portion proximal of the inner seal portion of the seal and spaced therefrom. The inner guide portion defines a channel adapted to generally direct the surgical instrument toward the inner seal portion of the seal upon entry of the surgical instrument within the longitudinal opening of the seal housing. The inner guide portion is relatively compliant to accommodate initial offset or angled entry of the surgical instrument.
