System and method for releasably holding a surgical instrument

A surgical instrument comprising:

• an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, a mechanical coupling therebetween and at least one axially extending slot communicating with said inner lumen;
• an end effector coupled to the distal end for engaging tissue;
• mounting means affixed to and having a protrusion laterally extending from said shaft between the proximal and distal ends for releasably holding the instrument;
• and
• a movable actuator mounted to the shaft and operatively coupled to the end effector for manipulating the end effector, the actuator including at least one actuator pin for cooperating with an external driver to controllably move the actuator, the actuator pin being spaced from and axially movable with respect to the mounting means;
• wherein said shaft includes an inner lumen extending from said distal end to a point intermediate said distal and proximal ends, said actuator including a linkage disposed within said inner lumen, wherein said actuator pin is coupled to and laterally extends from said linkage through said axially extending slot, said actuator pin being adapted to engage an interface on the external driver for releasably coupling said actuator to the external driver.

A method for releasably holding a surgical instrument having a shaft with a proximal end, a distal end and a mounting means affixed to and having a protrusion extending from the shaft between the proximal and distal ends, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing an instrument support having a central bore and a first hole in communication with said bore;
• sliding the shaft through the bore of the support such that the protrusion slides through the first hole;
• aligning the protrusion with a second hole transverse to and in communication with the first hole;
• rotating the protrusion through the second hole and out of the first hole so as to prevent further axial movement of the shaft through the bore thereby coupling the instrument to the support;
• and
• providing an actuator driver having a central bore and a first hole in communication therewith;
• and
• sliding a pair of actuator pins laterally extending from the instrument shaft through the first hole.