Snap fit collar for coupling the end of a flexible coil to the actuator or clevis of an endoscopic surgical instrument and an endoscopic surgical instrument incorporating the same

摘要

A snap-fit collar for coupling the end of a flexible coil to a part of an endoscopic instrument is a substantially cylindrical member having a first end portion with a stop flange, a resilient tapered locking flange spaced apart from the stop flange defining a waist or groove between the stop flange and the locking flange, and second end portion having a pair of cantilevered substantially semi-cylindrical legs. The first end portion is preferably frustroconical and flares diametrically outward to form the stop flange which has a first diameter. The waist or groove has a second diameter which is smaller than the first diameter. The tapered locking flange is also preferably frustroconical and tapers diametrically inward from a third diameter which is larger than the second diameter. Each of the legs is inclined diametrically outward and includes a plurality of coil engaging ribs on its inner surface. The outer surface of each leg is preferably provided with a longitudinal key and the free end of each leg is preferably tapered radially inward. The collar has a throughbore which extends through the first end portion to the space between the legs. An endoscopic instrument actuator and a clevis for use with the snap-fit collar each include a throughbore having a step and a pair of diametrically opposed keyways which extend into at least a portion of the throughbore wall.