Patent ID: 7947034

Claim:
In an electro-mechanical surgical system including a surgical attachment detachably coupleable to an electro-mechanical driver device via a relatively flexible shaft, a substantially rigid extender comprising: a proximal end having a proximal coupling configured to be detachably coupled to a distal coupling of a distal end of the flexible shaft; a distal end having a distal coupling configured to be detachably coupled to a proximal coupling of the surgical attachment; and at least two rotatable drive shafts each configured to engage and be secured with a respective rotatable drive shaft of the flexible shaft such that rotation of the respective rotatable drive shafts of the flexible shaft by the electro-mechanical driver device causes the at least two rotatable drive shafts of the extender to rotate, thereby rotating at least two complementary connectors of the surgical attachment so as to operate the surgical attachment; wherein the proximal coupling of the extender is complementary to the distal coupling of the flexible shaft and complementary to the distal coupling of the extender; wherein the distal coupling of the extender is complementary to the proximal coupling of the surgical attachment and complementary to the distal coupling of the extender; and wherein the rigid extender has a reduced degree of flexibility as compared to the flexible shaft.