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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

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.

대표청구항 ▼

A snap-fit collar for coupling the end of a flexible coil to a portion of an endoscopic surgical instrument having a throughbore with a protrusion defining a reduced diameter portion of the throughbore, said collar comprising: a) a first end portion having an interior passage, an exterior stop flang

A snap-fit collar for coupling the end of a flexible coil to a portion of an endoscopic surgical instrument having a throughbore with a protrusion defining a reduced diameter portion of the throughbore, said collar comprising: a) a first end portion having an interior passage, an exterior stop flange with a first diameter and a resilient exterior tapered locking flange spaced apart from said stop flange and defining a groove lying between said stop flange and said locking flange, said groove having a second diameter which is smaller than said first diameter and being adapted to receive the protrusion, said tapered locking flange being tapered radially inward from a third diameter which is larger than said second diameter and being adapted to move through the reduced diameter portion in one direction only; and b) a second end portion extending from said first end portion and having a pair of cantilevered legs which diverge as they extend away from said first end portion, each of said legs having a plurality of coil engaging ribs on an inner surface thereof, and said legs defining a space which is in communication with said interior passage, said space and said interior passage being adapted to receive the end of the flexible coil, wherein when the end of the flexible coil is inserted through said interior passage into said space and said collar with the coil is inserted into the throughbore of the portion of the endoscopic surgical instrument, said legs are pressed toward each other and engage the coil with said ribs, said locking flange passes through the reduced diameter portion and said stop flange stops said collar from entering farther into the throughbore of the portion of the endoscopic surgical instrument.