Patent attributes
A surgical instrument that includes a probe that is extended into a body cavity and a handle held by a surgeon outside the body cavity, where the surgical instrument includes both an optical system and surgical tool operable by the surgeon that passes through the handle and probe includes a connection configuration on its proximal end of the probe and elements within a bore of the handle which allows for securely locking the probe in at least two different orientations. In particular, the proximal end of the probe includes a pair of axial slots and a twist region which cooperate with inwardly projecting land regions in a bore of the handle. A locking mechanism is used to selectively move a locking member into and out of one or the other of said pair of axial slots so as to secure the probe on the handle in the desired orientation.