A handling device for a micro-invasive surgical instrument includes a gripping device to hold and guide the handling device, a shaft coupling to couple the handling device with a proximal end of a shaft, and a rod coupling that can slide linearly inside the handling device between a distal assembly position and a range of working positions for coupling with a proximal end of a transmission rod that can be slid inside a shaft coupled with the shaft coupling. The slidable rod coupling is configured, in the assembly position, to receive or release a proximal end of a transmission rod and to hold a proximal end of a transmission rod, in the range of working positions. The shaft coupling is configured to block a proximal end of a shaft in a position in which the proximal end of the shaft holds the rod coupling in the range of working positions.