Percutaneous instrument with collet locking mechanisms

1. A surgical device, comprising:

a) an elongate shaft comprising a distal end and a proximal end;

b) an actuator operably connected to the proximal end of the elongate shaft;

c) an end effector adapted for attachment to and detachment from the distal end of the elongate shaft, the end effector comprising:

i) a laterally deflecting arm dimensioned to engage at least a portion of the distal end of the elongate shaft;

ii) a ring comprising a first axial position and a second axial position, wherein in the first position the arm can deflect laterally and in the second position the ring circumscribes the arm and constrains the arm from deflecting laterally; and

iii) a spring biasing the ring to the second position.

2. The surgical device of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a manual handle.

3. The surgical device of claim 1 , wherein the end effector is adapted for in vivo attachment and detachment from the distal end of the elongate shaft.

4. The surgical device of claim 1 , wherein the elongate shaft is adapted for direct percutaneous insertion.

5. The surgical device of claim 1 , wherein the ring first position is distal of the ring second position.

6. The surgical device of claim 1 , further comprising a loader dimensioned for receiving the end effector, the loader comprising:

a locked state where the end effector is locked in the loader and the end effector ring is in its first position;

an unlocked state where the end effector is unlocked from the loader and the end effector ring is in its second position.

7. The surgical device of claim 1 , wherein the arm comprises a medial tooth that engages a groove in the distal end of the elongate shaft.

8. A surgical device, comprising:

a) an elongate shaft comprising an outer tube and an inner rod positioned in the outer tube, the outer tube and inner rod each comprising a distal end and a proximal end, the inner rod and outer tube each comprising a groove on the distal end;

b) an actuator operably connected to the proximal ends of the outer tube and the inner rod;

c) an end effector adapted for in vivo attachment to and detachment from the distal ends of the outer tube and the inner rod, the end effector comprising:

i) a first arm dimensioned to engage the groove of the inner rod;

ii) a second arm dimensioned to engage the groove of the outer tube;

iii) an outer casing moveable between a distal axial position where the first and second arms can laterally deflect, and a proximal axial position where the first and second arms are constrained from laterally deflecting; and

iv) a spring biasing the outer casing to the proximal axial position.

9. The surgical device of claim 8 , wherein the first and second arms have a snap fit with the grooves on the inner rod and outer tube, respectively.

10. The surgical device of claim 8 , wherein the first and second arms are each cantilevered and each comprise a medial tooth dimensioned to mate with the grooves on the inner rod and outer tube, respectively.

11. The surgical device of claim 8 , further comprising a loader dimensioned for receiving end effector, the loader comprising:

a locked state where the end effector is locked in the loader and the end effector outer casing is in its distal axial position;

an unlocked state where the end effector is unlocked from the loader and the end effector outer casing is in its proximal axial position.

12. The surgical device of claim 8 , further comprising a second inner laterally deflecting arm dimensioned to engage the groove of the inner rod.