Loader for exchanging end effectors in vivo

A laparoscopic surgical kit, comprising:

• a) a percutaneous elongate shaft defining a longitudinal axis, the shaft comprising a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end comprising a mating feature;
• b) a surgical end effector selectively attachable in vivo and detachable in vivo to the mating feature of the percutaneous elongate shaft;
• c) a percutaneous elongate loader comprising a means to hold the surgical end effector during the in vivo attachment to and in vivo detachment from the percutaneous elongate shaft.

A surgical device for use in combination with a percutaneous elongate shaft defining a longitudinal axis, the shaft comprising a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end comprising an attachment mechanism, and a surgical end effector selectively attachable in vivo and detachable in vivo to the attachment mechanism of the percutaneous elongate shaft, the surgical device comprising:

• a percutaneous elongate loader comprising an articulating distal end, the distal end comprising a tube with an opening at the distal tip, the tube being dimensioned to receive the surgical end effector, the distal end further comprising an engagement feature capable of frictionally holding the surgical end effector in the tube during in vivo attachment to and in vivo detachment from the percutaneous elongate shaft.