Flexible shaft extender and method of using same

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/592,778, entitled “Flexible Shaft Extender,” filed on Jul. 30, 2004, which is expressly incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a surgical device, and more particularly to a flexible shaft extender, and a method for using same.

[0003] Various surgical systems are known in which a surgical attachment is attached to a flexible shaft. In these systems, a surgical attachment may typically be manipulated and/or positioned within the patient's body by the user holding the flexible shaft at a location near to the surgical attachment. For surgical locations within the patient's body that are difficult to access, the user may be required to hold the flexible shaft at a substantial distance from its point of connection to the surgical attachment. However, the flexibility of the flexible shaft may hinder a user's ability to accurately position the surgical attachment within the body. This may be problematic when the position of the surgical attachment is well within the patient's body and the user is forced to hold the flexible shaft at a substantial distance from its point of connection to the surgical attachment. The resulting lack of accuracy in positioning and manipulating the surgical attachment may negatively impact the effectiveness of the surgical attachment in performing the surgical procedure.

[0004] The present invention relates to an extender for a flexible shaft of an electro-mechanical surgical system. The flexible shaft extender is substantially rigid. The flexible shaft extender is configured to be coupled at one end to the flexible shaft of an electro-mechanical surgical system and to be coupled at its other end to a surgical attachment. Advantageously, the flexible shaft extender includes a pair of rotatable drive shafts that are configured to engage and be secured with rotatable drive shafts of the flexible shaft of the electro-mechanical surgical system. In this manner, rotation of the rotatable drive shafts of the flexible shaft by an electro-mechanical driver device may cause the drive shafts of the flexible shaft extender to rotate, thereby rotating the complementary connectors of the surgical attachment so as to operate the surgical attachment.

[0005] Furthermore, the flexible shaft extender may include a data wiring harness or data cable which is configured to attach to and communicate with the surgical attachment and the data cable of the flexible shaft. In this manner, data, such as usage data, operating data, etc. may be conveyed via the flexible shaft extender between the surgical attachment and the data cable of the flexible shaft.

[0006] The present invention provides, in an example embodiment, for a surgical attachment used in an electro-mechanical surgical system that is compliable to an electro-mechanical driver device via a flexible shaft, a substantially rigid extender that includes: a proximal end configured to be detachably coupled to a distal end of the flexible shaft; a distal end configured to be detachably coupled to the surgical attachment; at least one rotatable drive shaft configured to engage and be secured with a respective rotatable drive shaft of the flexible shaft such that rotation of the respective rotatable drive shaft of the flexible shaft by the electro-mechanical driver device causes the at least one rotatable drive shaft of the extender to rotate, thereby rotating a complementary connector of the surgical attachment so as to operate the surgical attachment. The extender may be autoclavable. The extender may include a memory unit. The memory unit may be configured to store one or more of serial number data, an attachment type identifier data and a usage data. One or more of the serial number data and the ID data may be configured as read-only data. The serial number data may be data uniquely identifying the extender. The ID data may be data identifying the type of the extender. The usage data may represent a number of times the extender has been used. The extender may include a data cable configured to transfer data between the memory unit and the electro-mechanical driver device. The extender may also include a data cable configured to transfer data-between a memory unit located in the surgical attachment and the electro-mechanical driver device.

[0007] The present invention also provides, in an example embodiment, a method for performing a surgical procedure, the method comprising the steps of: detachably coupling a proximal end of an extender to a flexible shaft, the flexible shaft being coupled to an electro-mechanical driver device, the extender being substantially rigid; detachably coupling a distal end of the extender to a surgical attachment such that at least one rotatable drive shaft engages and is secured with a respective rotatable drive shaft of the flexible shaft; rotating the respective rotatable drive shaft of the flexible shaft by the electro-mechanical driver device so as to cause the at least one rotatable drive shaft of the extender to rotate; and rotating, by the at least one rotatable drive shaft of the extender, a complementary connector of the surgical attachment so as to operate the surgical attachment. The method may include the step of storing in a memory unit of the extender one or more of serial number data, an attachment type identifier data and a usage data. The method may include the step of configuring one or more of the serial number data and the ID data as read-only data. The serial number data may be data uniquely identifying the extender. The ID data may be data identifying the type of the extender. The usage data may represent a number of times the extender has been used. The method may include the step of transferring, via a data cable located within the extender, data between the memory unit and the electro-mechanical driver device. The method may include the step of storing in a memory unit of the surgical attachment one or more of serial number data, an attachment type identifier data and a usage data. The method may also include the step of transferring, via a data cable located within the extender, data between the memory unit and the electro-mechanical driver device.

[0008] Additional features of the flexible shaft extender of the present invention are discussed in greater detail below.

[0031] FIG. 1(a) is a surgical system 100, according to an example embodiment of the present invention. The surgical system 100 includes an electro-mechanical driver device 110 detachably coupled to a surgical attachment 120. Such an electro-mechanical driver device is described in, for example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/723,715, entitled “Electro-Mechanical Surgical Device,” filed on Nov. 28, 2000, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,793,652, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/836,781, entitled “Electro-Mechanical Surgical Device, filed on Apr. 17, 2001, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/887,789, entitled “Electro-Mechanical Surgical Device,” filed on Jun. 22, 2001, each of which is expressly incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. The electro-mechanical driver device 110 may include, for example, a remote power console (RPC) 105, which includes a housing 115 having a front panel 125. Mounted on the front panel 125 are a display device 130 and indicators 135a, 135b. A connection slot 140 is also provided on the front panel 125. The electro-mechanical driver device 110 may also include a video display 145, e.g., a television monitor, computer monitor, CRT or other viewing device, attached to the RPC 105. The video display 145 may receive, for example, image signals (e.g., video signals) from an imaging device 195. The electro-mechanical driver device 110 may also include a reception system 150 having a receiver or transceiver 155 and circuitry 160 operable to convert signals received from the imaging device 195 into a form suitable for display on the video display 145. The reception system 150 may also include a memory device 165 for buffering and/or storing processed image data received from the imaging device 195.

[0032] A flexible shaft 170 may extend from the housing 115 and may be detachably secured thereto via a first coupling 175. The distal end 180 of the flexible shaft 170 may include a second coupling 185 adapted to detachably secure the surgical attachment 120 to the distal end 180 of the flexible shaft 170.

[0033] Disposed within the interior channel of the flexible shaft 170, and extending along the length thereof, may be rotatable shafts, steering cables, one or more data transfer cables and power transfer leads, all of which terminate at the second coupling 185 at the distal end 180 of the flexible shaft 170. The electro-mechanical driver device 110 may include a motor system (not shown), which includes one or more motors configured to rotate the drive shafts and to apply tension or otherwise drive the steering cables to thereby steer the distal end 180 of the flexible shaft 170.

[0034] Various types of surgical instruments or attachments 190 may be attached to the distal end 180 of the flexible shaft 170. The surgical instrument or attachment may be, for example, a surgical stapler, a surgical cutter, a surgical stapler-cutter, a linear surgical stapler, a linear surgical stapler-cutter, a circular surgical stapler, a circular surgical stapler-cutter, a surgical clip applier, a surgical clip ligator, a surgical clamping device, a vessel expanding device, a lumen expanding device, a scalpel, a fluid delivery device or any other type of surgical instrument. Such surgical instruments are described, for example, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/324,451, entitled “A Stapling Device for Use with an Electromechanical Driver Device for Use with Anastomosing, Stapling, and Resecting Instruments,” now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,315,184, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/324,452, entitled “Electro-mechanical Driver Device for Use with Anastomosing, Stapling, and Resecting Instruments,” now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,443,973, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/351,534, entitled “Automated Surgical Stapling System,” now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,087, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/510,926, entitled “A Vessel and Lumen Expander Attachment for Use with an Electro-mechanical Driver Device,” now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,061, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/510,927, entitled “Electro-mechanical Driver and Remote Surgical Instruments Attachment Having Computer Assisted Control Capabilities,” now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,716,233, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/510,931, entitled “A Tissue Stapling Attachment for Use with an Electro-mechanical Driver Device,” now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,533,157, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/510,932, entitled “A Fluid Delivery Mechanism for Use with Anastomosing, Stapling, and Resecting Instruments,” now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,491,201, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/510,933, entitled “A Fluid Delivery Device for Use with Anastomosing, Stapling, and Resecting Instruments,” now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,488,197, each of which is expressly incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 1(b), there is seen a side view, partially in section, of the flexible shaft 170. According to an example embodiment, the flexible shaft 170 includes a tubular sheath 28, which may include a coating or other sealing arrangement to provide a fluid-tight seal between the interior channel 40 thereof and the environment. The sheath 28 may be formed of a tissue-compatible, sterilizable elastomeric material. The sheath 28 may also be formed of a material that is autoclavable. Disposed within the interior channel 40 of the flexible shaft 170, and extending along the entire length thereof, may be a first rotatable drive shaft 30, a second rotatable drive shaft 32, a first steering cable 34, a second steering cable 35, a third steering cable 36, a fourth steering cable 37 and a data transfer cable 38. FIG. 1(c) is a cross-sectional view of the flexible shaft 170 taken along the line 1(c)-1(c) shown in FIG. 1(b) and further illustrates the several cables 30, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38. Each distal end of the steering cables 34, 35, 36, 37 is affixed to the distal end 180 of the flexible shaft 170. Each of the several cables 30, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 may be contained within a respective sheath.

[0036] Referring now to FIG. 1(d), there is seen a rear end view of the first coupling 175. The first coupling 175 includes a first connector 44, a second connector 48, a third connector 52 and a fourth connector 56, each rotatable secured to the first coupling 175. Each of the connectors 44, 48, 52, 56 includes a respective recess 46, 50, 54, 58. As shown in FIG. 1(d), each recess 46, 50, 54, 58 may be hexagonally shaped. It should be appreciated, however, that the recesses 46, 50, 54, 58 may have any shape and configuration to non-rotatable couple and rigidly attach the connectors 44, 48, 52, 56 to respective drive shafts of the motor arrangement contained within the housing 12, as more fully described below. It should be appreciated that complementary projections may be provided on respective drive shafts of the motor arrangement to thereby drive the drive elements of the flexible shaft 170 as described below. It should also be appreciated that the recesses may be provided on the drive shafts and complementary projections may be provided on the connectors 44, 48, 52, 56. Any other coupling arrangement configured to non-rotatable and releasably couple the connectors 44, 48, 52, 56 and the drive shafts of the motor arrangement may be provided.

[0037] One of the connectors 44, 48, 52, 56 is non-rotatably secured to the first drive shaft 30, and another one of the connectors 44, 48, 52, 56 is non-rotatably secured to the second drive shaft 32. The remaining two of the connectors 44, 48, 52, 56 engage with transmission elements configured to apply tensile forces on the steering cables 34, 35, 36, 37 to thereby steer the distal end 180 of the flexible shaft 170. The data transfer cable 38 is electrically and logically connected with the data connector 60. The data connector 60 includes, for example, electrical contacts 62, corresponding to and equal in number to the number of individual wires contained in the data cable 38. The first coupling 175 includes a key structure 42 to properly orient the first coupling 175 to a mating and complementary coupling arrangement disposed on the housing 115. Such key structure 42 may be provided on either one, or both, of the first coupling 175 and the mating and complementary coupling arrangement disposed on the housing 115. The first coupling 175 may include a quick-connect type connector, which may use, for example, a simple pushing motion to engage the first coupling 175 to the housing 115. Seals may be provided in conjunction with any of the several connectors 44, 48, 52, 56, 60 to provide a fluid-tight seal between the interior of the first coupling 175 and the environment.

[0038] Referring now to FIG. 1(e), there is seen a front end view of the second coupling 185 of the flexible shaft 170. The second coupling 185 includes a first connector 66 and a second connector 68, each being rotatably secured to the second coupling 185 and each being non-rotatably secured to a distal end of a respective one of the first and second drive shafts 30, 32. A quick-connect type fitting 64 is provided on the second coupling 185 for detachably securing the surgical instrument or attachment thereto. The quick-connect type fitting 64 may be, for example, a rotary quick-connect type fitting, a bayonet type fitting, etc. A key structure 74 is provided on the second coupling 185 for properly aligning the surgical instrument or attachment to the second coupling 185. The key structure or other arrangement for properly aligning the surgical instrument or attachment to the flexible shaft 170 may be provided on either one, or both, of the second coupling 185 and the surgical instrument or attachment. In addition, the quick-connect type fitting may be provided on the surgical instrument or attachment. A data connector 70, having electrical contacts 72, is also provided in the second coupling 185. Like the data connector 60 of the first coupling 175, the data connector 70 of the second coupling 185 includes the contacts 72 electrically and logically connected to the respective wires of the data transfer cable 38 and the contacts 62 of the data connector 60. Seals may be provided in conjunction with the connectors 66, 68, 70 to provide a fluid-tight seal between the interior of the second coupling 185 and the environment.

[0039] Disposed within the housing 115 of the remote power console 105 are electro-mechanical driver elements configured to drive the drive shafts 30, 32 and the steering cables 34, 35, 36, 37 to thereby operate the electro-mechanical surgical device 10 and the surgical instrument or attachment attached to the second coupling 185. Electric motors, each operating via a power source, may be disposed in the remote power console 105. Any appropriate number of motors may be provided, and the motors may operate via battery power, line current, a DC power supply, an electronically controlled DC power supply, etc. It should also be appreciated that the motors may be connected to a DC power supply, which is in turn connected to line current and which supplies the operating current to the motors.

[0040] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a flexible shaft extender 10, according to an example embodiment of the present invention. The flexible shaft extender 10 provides a substantially rigid handle that attaches to the second coupling 185 at the distal end 180 of the flexible shaft 170. The flexible shaft extender 10 includes a distal tip assembly 201, a tube assembly 202, a distal end O-ring 203, a handle cap assembly 204, a pair of drive shafts 205, a retention pin 206, a handle 207, a handle screw 208, a handle O-ring 209, a pair of tubes (e.g., of teflon) 210, a bearing block 211 and a pin block 212.

[0041] FIGS. 3(a) to 3(e) illustrate various views of the distal tip assembly 201. As shown in FIG. 3(a), the distal tip assembly 201 includes a distal end tip 301, a pair of bearings 302, a pair of sealing elements 303, a distal pin positioner 304, a DLU pin sealing element 305 and a dowel pin 306. The distal tip assembly 201 is configured to have a surgical attachment attached thereto. When the flexible shaft extender 10 is assembled, the distal tip assembly 201 is attached to the distal end of the tube assembly 202.

[0042] FIGS. 4(a) to 4(d) illustrate various views of the distal end tip 301. The distal end tip 301 includes two stepped bores 3011 and 3012. In addition, the distal end tip 301 includes a centrally-located threaded bore 3013. In addition, the distal end tip 301 includes a rectangular longitudinal opening 3014.

[0043] FIGS. 5(a) to 5(e) illustrate various views of the DLU pin sealing element 305. FIGS. 6(a) to 6(c) illustrate various views of the distal pin positioner 304.

[0044] Referring back to FIGS. 3(b) and 3(d), there is shown the various components of the distal tip assembly 201 in the assembled condition. As shown in FIG. 3(b), the pair of bearings 302 are inserted within the two stepped bores 3011 and 3012 of the distal end tip 301. As shown in FIGS. 3(d) and 3(e), the distal pin positioner 304 is inserted into the distal end tip 301 and fits within the rectangular longitudinal opening 3014 and is flush with the distal-most surface of the distal end tip. The DLU pin sealing element 305 maintains the distal pin positioner 304 within the rectangular longitudinal opening 3014 of the distal end tip 301.

[0045] FIGS. 7(a) to 7(e) illustrate various views of the tube assembly 202. For instance, FIG. 7(e) is an exploded view of the tube assembly 202. The tube assembly 202 includes a tube 901, a tube cap 902, a wire retention tube 903, a screw 904 and a distal end O-ring 905.

[0046] FIGS. 8(a) to 8(c) illustrate various views of the tube 901. FIGS. 9(a) to 9(c) illustrate various views of the tube cap 902. The tube cap 902 may include first second, third and fourth orifices 9021, 9022, 9023 and 9024 and a central orifice 9025.

[0047] Referring back to FIG. 7(d), there is shown the various components of the tube assembly 202 in the assembled condition. As shown in FIG. 7(d), the tube 901 may be welded to the tube cap 902. The wire retention tube 903 is arranged longitudinally within the tube 901 and may be welded to the tube cap 902 so as to be longitudinally aligned with the orifice 9022 of the tube cap 902. The screw 904 is inserted through the central orifice 9025 of the tube cap. The distal end O-ring 905 is retained around the screw 904 in a distal recess of the tube cap 902.

[0048] FIGS. 10(a) to 10(d) illustrate various views of the handle cap assembly 204. FIG. 10(a) is an exploded view of the handle cap assembly 204. The handle cap assembly 204 includes a handle cap 1601, a keyplate 1602, a quick connect collar 1603, a pair of bearings 1604, a pair of proximal sealing elements 1605, a screw 1606, a wiring harness assembly 1607, an outboard shim 1608, an inboard shim 1609, a spring 1610, a handle O-ring 1611, a drive socket assembly 1612, a drive socket spring 1613, a quick connect spring 1614, a bearing spacer 1615 and potting 1616.

[0049] The wiring harness assembly 1607 includes at its proximal end a device having a connector (e.g., for connection to the data transfer cable 38 of the flexible shaft 170), a memory unit 174 that may store various types of data, and one or more wires or cables extending distally therefrom. An exemplary memory unit 174 is described in, for example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/723,715, entitled “Electro-Mechanical Surgical Device,” filed on Nov. 28, 2000, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/836,781, entitled “Electro-Mechanical Surgical Device, filed on Apr. 17, 2001, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/887,789, entitled “Electro-Mechanical Surgical Device,” filed on Jun. 22, 2001, each of which, as stated above, is expressly incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. For instance, the memory unit 174 may store, for instance, serial number data 180, an attachment type identifier data 182 and a usage data 184. Memory unit 174 may additionally store other data. Both the serial number data 180 and the ID data 182 may be configured as read-only data. In the example embodiment, serial number data 180 is data uniquely identifying the particular flexible shaft extender, whereas the ID data 182 is data identifying the type of the flexible shaft extender, such as, for example, a flexible shaft extender of a given length. The usage data 184 represents usage of the particular flexible shaft extender, such as, for example, the number of times the flexible shaft extender has been used.

[0050] It should be appreciated that the flexible shaft extender 10 may be designed and configured to be used a single time or multiple times. Accordingly, the usage data 184 may be used to determine whether the flexible shaft extender 10 has been used and whether the number of uses has exceeded the maximum number of permitted uses. An attempt to use the flexible shaft extender 10 after the maximum number of permitted uses has been reached may generate an ERROR condition.

[0051] FIGS. 11(a) to 11(e) illustrate various views of the handle cap 1601. FIGS. 12(a) to 12(j) illustrate various views of the keyplate 1602. FIGS. 13(a) to 13(g) illustrate various views of the quick connect collar 1603.

[0052] FIG. 14(a) is an exploded view of the drive socket assembly 1612. The drive socket assembly 1612 includes a drive socket 2601 and a drive socket sleeve 2602. FIGS. 15(a) to 15(f) illustrate various views of the drive socket spring 2601. The drive socket spring 2601 has a longitudinal slit 2702 at its distal end and a centrally-disposed, longitudinally-arranged bore 2701. FIGS. 16(a) and 16(b) illustrate various views of the drive socket sleeve 2602.

[0053] Referring back to FIG. 10(b), there is shown the various components of the handle cap assembly 204 in the assembled condition. As shown in FIG. 10(b), the keyplate 1602 is mounted to the proximal surface of the handle cap 1601 by the screw 1606. The quick connect collar 1603 is retained against the proximal surface of the handle cap 1601 by being in locked engagement between the keyplate 1602 and the handle cap 1601. The quick connect collar 1603 is configured to be detachably coupled to the second coupling 185 at the distal end 180 of the flexible shaft 170. The pair of bearings 1604 fit within corresponding orifices of the handle cap 1601. One each of the bearing spacers 1615, the proximal sealing elements 1605 and the bearings 1604 are mounted on a respective drive socket 2601, and operate to rotatably retain the drive socket 2601 within respective orifices of the handle cap 1601. The wiring harness 1607 is retained within the handle cap assembly 204 such that a proximal end is accessible via an opening in the keyplate 1602, and a distal end extends to the distal end of the tube assembly 202 and out of an orifice of the distal tip assembly 201. In this manner, data may be conveyed via the wiring harness 1607 from a surgical attachment attached to the distal tip assembly 201 to the data transfer cable 38 within the flexible shaft 170.

[0054] FIGS. 17(a) to 17(c) illustrate various views of the drive shafts 205. In the example embodiments discussed and illustrated herein, the flexible shaft extender 10 includes two drive shafts 205, though any number, e.g., one or more, drive shafts may be employed. The drive shafts 205 are rotatable within the flexible shaft extender 10 so as to rotate a respective component of the surgical attachment. The proximal ends of the drive shafts 205 are insertable within and rotatably secured within the bore 2701 of the drive socket 2601.

[0055] FIGS. 18(a) to 18(c) illustrate various views of the handle 207. When the flexible shaft extender 10 is assembled, the rotatable drive shafts 205 are positioned within the tubes 210, which may be made of a material, e.g., teflon, that minimizes the friction between the rotatable drive shafts 205 and the tubes 210.

[0056] In use, the quick connect collar 1603 is attached to the second coupling 185 at the distal end 180 of the flexible shaft 170. In this manner, the first connector 66 and the second connector 68 of the second coupling 185, that engage and are rotatably secured with first and second rotatable drive shafts 30 and 32, may also engage and be rotatably secured with the drive socket assembly 1612, which in turn engages and is rotatably secured with the proximal ends of the drive shafts 205.

[0057] In addition, a surgical attachment 190 may be attached to the distal tip assembly 201. In this manner, the distal ends of the drive shafts 205 may engage and be rotatably secured with complementary connectors of the surgical attachment 190. Rotation of the first and second rotatable drive shafts 30 and 32 of the flexible shaft 170 by the electro-mechanical driver device 110 cause the drive shafts 205 of the flexible shaft extender 10 to rotate, which thereby rotate the complementary connectors of the surgical attachment 190 so as to operate the surgical attachment 190. Furthermore, data, such as usage data, operating data, etc. may be conveyed between the surgical attachment 190 and the data transfer cable 38 of the flexible shaft 170, and from the memory unit 174 of the flexible shaft extender 10 to the data transfer cable 38 of the flexible shaft 170.

[0058] The flexible shaft extender 10 provides a substantially rigid device that may be inserted by a user into a surgical site. The flexible shaft extender 10 may provide a user with improved control of the surgical attachment 190, as compared to the use of, e.g., a surgical attachment 190, that is attached directly to, e.g., the flexible shaft 170. For instance, when a surgical attachment is attached to a conventional flexible shaft, the surgical attachment is typically manipulated and/or positioned within the patient's body by the user holding the flexible shaft at a location near to the surgical attachment. For surgical locations within the patient's body that are difficult to access, the user may be required to hold the flexible shaft at a substantial distance from its point of connection to the surgical attachment. However, the flexibility of the flexible shaft may hinder a user's ability to accurately position the surgical attachment within the body. This may be problematic when the position of the surgical attachment is well within the patient's body and the user is forced to hold the flexible shaft at a substantial distance from its point of connection to the surgical attachment. The resulting lack of accuracy in positioning and manipulating the surgical attachment may negatively impact the effectiveness of the surgical attachment in performing the surgical procedure. However, the present invention according to various embodiments thereof, provides a substantially rigid extender between the surgical attachment and the flexible shaft. In this manner, a surgical attachment may be manipulated and/or positioned within the patient's body by the user holding the extender. Thus, for any surgical locations within a patient's body, and particularly for those surgical locations that are difficult to access, the user may hold the extender at a substantial distance from its point of connection to the surgical attachment without the flexibility of the flexible shaft hindering the user's ability to accurately position the surgical attachment within the body. Even when the position of the surgical attachment is well within the patient's body and the user is forced to hold the extender at a substantial distance from its point of connection to the surgical attachment, the substantially rigid extender may enable improved control by the user of the surgical attachment when positioning or manipulating same. The resulting improvement of accuracy in positioning and manipulating the surgical attachment may improve the effectiveness of the surgical attachment in performing the surgical procedure.

[0059] Furthermore, the flexible shaft extender 10 may be autoclavable by virtue of the material with which it is constructed, as well as the sealing components that prevent moisture from entering the flexible shaft extender 10. When autoclavable, the flexible shaft extender may be re-used, e.g., for different patients, different types of surgical procedures and/or with different surgical attachments, thereby providing a significant cost savings relative to single-use devices.

[0060] Thus, the several aforementioned objects and advantages of the present invention are most effectively attained. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous modifications of the exemplary embodiment described hereinabove may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Although various exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been described and disclosed in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby.