is attached to the flexible distal section 240 using a conventional non articulated joint a rigid tube 246 is inserted into an axial bore 248 in the proximal face 250 of the trocar tip and is attached therein such that it projects from the proximal face the proximal end 252 of the rigid tube 246 is flared a relatively deep bore 254 ending in the cavity 258 is molded in the distal face 256 of the flexible distal section 240 the rigid tube is inserted into the bore 254 such that the flared proximal end 252 engages in the cavity 258 the engagement of the flared proximal end of the rigid tube 246 in the cavity 258 axially locates the rigid tube 246 and hence the trocar tip 242 relative to the flexible distal section 242 the trocar tip is free to rotate relative to the flexible distal section 242 the juxtaposition of the rigid tube 246 and the deep bore 254 provides substantially no articulate movement of the trocar tip relative to the flexible distal section however thus substantially all lateral compliance of the trocar is provided by the flexible distal section 240 in fig5 b an arrangement similar to that just described is.