A medical device, comprising: a control handle (1100, 1200) having: a pushrod; a rotatable bell-shaped actuator in which said pushrod is coaxially disposed, the bell-shaped actuator having: an unactuated state; and an actuated state in which the bell-shaped actuator is displaced over a given distance in a proximal direction on a distal end of the control handle (1100, 1200); and an outer tube and an inner tube through which said pushrod is received, said outer tube and inner tube defining a longitudinal axis and being rotationally fixedly connected to the bell-shaped actuator; a surgical stapling end effector having: a staple cartridge holder for holding a stapler cartridge having at least one staple; an anvil coupled to the staple cartridge holder; a cutting blade; and a flexible knife blade operatively connected to said pushrod to move the cutting blade; a passive articulating joint connecting said stapling end effector to the outer tube and the inner tube of said control handle (1100, 1200) and articulating about an articulation axis; the passive articulating joint coupling the staple cartridge holder to the inner tube by means of at least one pullband and coupling the anvil to the outer tuber; the flexible knife blade passing through said passive articulating joint and flexing in a corresponding manner to an articulation of said passive articulating joint; and said bell-shaped actuator: when in said unactuated state, holding said passive articulating joint and, thereby, said end effector, in a substantially fixed articulation position; and when in said actuated state, releasing said passive articulating joint into a freely articulating state to permit free articulation of said end effector with respect to said control handle (1100, 1200) dependent upon external forces acting upon said end effector; and when rotated, causing rotation of the outer tube, the inner tube and the end effector with respect to the longitudinal axis. a control handle (1100, 1200) having: a pushrod; a rotatable bell-shaped actuator in which said pushrod is coaxially disposed, the bell-shaped actuator having: an unactuated state; and an actuated state in which the bell-shaped actuator is displaced over a given distance in a proximal direction on a distal end of the control handle (1100, 1200); and an outer tube and an inner tube through which said pushrod is received, said outer tube and inner tube defining a longitudinal axis and being rotationally fixedly connected to the bell-shaped actuator; a pushrod; a rotatable bell-shaped actuator in which said pushrod is coaxially disposed, the bell-shaped actuator having: an unactuated state; and an actuated state in which the bell-shaped actuator is displaced over a given distance in a proximal direction on a distal end of the control handle (1100, 1200); and an unactuated state; and an actuated state in which the bell-shaped actuator is displaced over a given distance in a proximal direction on a distal end of the control handle (1100, 1200); and an outer tube and an inner tube through which said pushrod is received, said outer tube and inner tube defining a longitudinal axis and being rotationally fixedly connected to the bell-shaped actuator; a surgical stapling end effector having: a staple cartridge holder for holding a stapler cartridge having at least one staple; an anvil coupled to the staple cartridge holder; a cutting blade; and a flexible knife blade operatively connected to said pushrod to move the cutting blade; a staple cartridge holder for holding a stapler cartridge having at least one staple; an anvil coupled to the staple cartridge holder; a cutting blade; and a flexible knife blade operatively connected to said pushrod to move the cutting blade; a passive articulating joint connecting said stapling end effector to the outer tube and the inner tube of said control handle (1100, 1200) and articulating about an articulation axis; the passive articulating joint coupling the staple cartridge holder to the inner tube by means of at least one pullband and coupling the anvil to the outer tuber; the flexible knife blade passing through said passive articulating joint and flexing in a corresponding manner to an articulation of said passive articulating joint; and said bell-shaped actuator: when in said unactuated state, holding said passive articulating joint and, thereby, said end effector, in a substantially fixed articulation position; and when in said actuated state, releasing said passive articulating joint into a freely articulating state to permit free articulation of said end effector with respect to said control handle (1100, 1200) dependent upon external forces acting upon said end effector; and when rotated, causing rotation of the outer tube, the inner tube and the end effector with respect to the longitudinal axis. when in said unactuated state, holding said passive articulating joint and, thereby, said end effector, in a substantially fixed articulation position; and when in said actuated state, releasing said passive articulating joint into a freely articulating state to permit free articulation of said end effector with respect to said control handle (1100, 1200) dependent upon external forces acting upon said end effector; and when rotated, causing rotation of the outer tube, the inner tube and the end effector with respect to the longitudinal axis.