Patent ID: 8377044

Claim:
A modular surgical device, comprising: a shaft having proximal and distal ends; an outer sleeve disposed over at least a portion of the shaft, the outer sleeve having an asymmetrical bore formed in a distal end thereof and the shaft extending through at least a portion of the asymmetrical bore; a plurality of end effectors interchangeably matable to the distal end of the shaft, each end effector having an asymmetrical protrusion formed on a proximal end thereof and configured to be received within the asymmetrical bore such that rotation of the end effector relative to the outer sleeve is prevented; and an engagement mechanism located on the distal end of the shaft and configurable between a first position in which the engagement mechanism mates one of the plurality of end effectors to the distal end of the shaft, and a second position in which the plurality of end effectors are disassociated from the shaft and from one another, the engagement mechanism being configured for mating the end effectors to the distal end of the shaft in situ without assistance from additional devices.