A laparoscopic grasping instrument, comprising: an elongated shaft having a set of opposing jaws associated with a distal end thereof and a handle (43, 44) associated with a proximal end thereof; an articulation wrist (18, 19) positioned between said shaft and said jaw set for effecting movement of said jaws relative to said shaft as desired, both left and right, from centerline,: an articulation actuator associated with said handle (43, 44); at least one force transfer member (34a, 34b) for translating user operation of said actuator into movement of said jaws to control the degree of articulation of said instrument; and a further articulation wrist comprising a set of pivotal vertebra that are connected to each other, wherein each vertebra is adapted to pivot left and right from centerline in relation to any of said shaft and said jaw set, characterized by a locking mechanism for preventing motion of said further articulation wrist while a user performs other operations on said instrument, a spring having a shape that deflects when a force is applied thereto; wherein said spring is housed within a circular carrier; and wherein only the deflectable portion of said spring is accessible and protruding from said circular carrier; a rotating member having a circular portion removed from a pivot area; wherein said rotating member is adapted to fit over said circular carrier; and a tooth pattern that is removed from along an inner diameter of said circular portion of said rotating member, and comprises teeth; said rotating member comprising arms extending from a center body thereof to which said one or more force transfer members are attached; wherein said spring protrudes into indentations created by said tooth pattern; and wherein an angle of articulation of said further articulation wrist is controlled by predetermining distances between said teeth and a distance from an attachment point of said one or more force transfer member to a pivot point. an elongated shaft having a set of opposing jaws associated with a distal end thereof and a handle (43, 44) associated with a proximal end thereof; an articulation wrist (18, 19) positioned between said shaft and said jaw set for effecting movement of said jaws relative to said shaft as desired, both left and right, from centerline,: an articulation actuator associated with said handle (43, 44); at least one force transfer member (34a, 34b) for translating user operation of said actuator into movement of said jaws to control the degree of articulation of said instrument; and a further articulation wrist comprising a set of pivotal vertebra that are connected to each other, wherein each vertebra is adapted to pivot left and right from centerline in relation to any of said shaft and said jaw set, characterized by a locking mechanism for preventing motion of said further articulation wrist while a user performs other operations on said instrument, a spring having a shape that deflects when a force is applied thereto; wherein said spring is housed within a circular carrier; and wherein only the deflectable portion of said spring is accessible and protruding from said circular carrier; a rotating member having a circular portion removed from a pivot area; wherein said rotating member is adapted to fit over said circular carrier; and a tooth pattern that is removed from along an inner diameter of said circular portion of said rotating member, and comprises teeth; said rotating member comprising arms extending from a center body thereof to which said one or more force transfer members are attached; wherein said spring protrudes into indentations created by said tooth pattern; and wherein an angle of articulation of said further articulation wrist is controlled by predetermining distances between said teeth and a distance from an attachment point of said one or more force transfer member to a pivot point. an articulation actuator associated with said handle (43, 44); at least one force transfer member (34a, 34b) for translating user operation of said actuator into movement of said jaws to control the degree of articulation of said instrument; and a further articulation wrist comprising a set of pivotal vertebra that are connected to each other, wherein each vertebra is adapted to pivot left and right from centerline in relation to any of said shaft and said jaw set, characterized by a locking mechanism for preventing motion of said further articulation wrist while a user performs other operations on said instrument, a spring having a shape that deflects when a force is applied thereto; wherein said spring is housed within a circular carrier; and wherein only the deflectable portion of said spring is accessible and protruding from said circular carrier; a rotating member having a circular portion removed from a pivot area; wherein said rotating member is adapted to fit over said circular carrier; and a tooth pattern that is removed from along an inner diameter of said circular portion of said rotating member, and comprises teeth; said rotating member comprising arms extending from a center body thereof to which said one or more force transfer members are attached; wherein said spring protrudes into indentations created by said tooth pattern; and wherein an angle of articulation of said further articulation wrist is controlled by predetermining distances between said teeth and a distance from an attachment point of said one or more force transfer member to a pivot point.