Patent ID: 7559887

Claim:
In combination, a surgical instrument for use during endoscopic treatment and an insertion tool for inserting the instrument into a patient cavity; a. the instrument comprising a base having a connection point thereon; b. the insertion tool comprising an extracorporeal arm, an intracorporeal arm, and a segment connecting said intracorporeal arm to said extracorporeal arm; said intracorporeal arm being spaced below said extracorporeal arm; said intracorporeal arm and said extracorporeal arm being generally in the same vertical plane; said extracorporeal arm extending over at least a portion of said intracorporeal arm; said extracorporeal arm comprising an alignment slot therealong; said alignment slot opening to an edge of said extracorporeal arm; said tool further comprising a slide tube movable relative to said extracorporeal arm between a first position in which said alignment slot is open at said edge of said extracorporeal arm and a second position in which said alignment slot is closed at said edge of said extracorporeal arm, and in which said slide tube and said slot in combination define a hole through said extracorporeal arm which is closed around the perimeter of said hole; said intracorporeal arm having an upper surface, a lower surface, and an upwardly opening tray in said upper surface, said tray having side walls, a front wall and a back wall and being aligned with said slot of said extracorporeal arm and being adapted to removably receive and hold said instrument such that said instrument connection point is aligned with said alignment slot of said extracorporeal arm when said instrument is received in and held by said tray.