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

An endoscopic surgical instrument, comprising:

• a) a proximal actuator having a throughbore with a distal step defining a reduced diameter portion of said throughbore;
• b) a flexible coil having a proximal end and a distal end;
• c) a snap-fit collar having a pair of spaced apart radial flanges, an axial throughbore, and a pair of cantilevered legs, wherein
• the proximal end of said flexible coil is coupled to said proximal actuator by said snap-fit collar with said proximal end of said flexible coil residing in said axial throughbore of said collar, said pair of cantilevered legs residing in said throughbore of said proximal actuator and said spaced apart flanges residing on opposite sides of said distal step.

An endoscopic surgical instrument, comprising:

• a) a proximal actuator;
• b) a flexible coil having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end of said flexible coil being coupled to said proximal actuator;
• c) a distal clevis having a proximal tube portion with a throughbore and a proximal step defining a reduced diameter portion of said throughbore;
• and
• d) a snap-fit collar having a pair of spaced apart radial flanges, an axial throughbore, and a pair of cantilevered legs, wherein
• the distal end of said flexible coil is coupled to said distal clevis by said snap-fit collar with said distal end of said flexible coil residing in said axial throughbore of said collar, said pair of cantilevered legs residing in said throughbore of said distal clevis and said spaced apart flanges residing on opposite sides of said proximal step.

A snap-fit collar for coupling an end of a flexible coil to a portion of an endoscopic surgical instrument having a throughbore with a step defining a reduced diameter portion of the throughbore, said collar comprising:

• a substantially cylindrical member having an axial throughbore and a first and second end;
• said first end having a pair of spaced apart radial flanges;
• said second end being split and defining a pair of cantilevered legs with a space therebetween, wherein
• when the end of the flexible coil is inserted through said axial throughbore into the space between said legs and said collar with the coil is inserted into the throughbore of the portion of the endoscopic instrument, the coil is engaged by an inner surface of each of said legs and said collar is engaged by the throughbore of the portion of the endoscopic surgical instrument with said spaced apart flanges engaging the step in the throughbore of the portion of the endoscopic surgical instrument.