Patent ID: 8353898

Claim:
Surgical instrument for use in combination with a trocar or the like, comprising: a proximal and a distal end section, each end section comprising an area of articulation, a flexurally rigid central section arranged between the proximal end section and the distal end section, the proximal end section being connectable to an actuating device, the distal end section being connectable to a cutting, abrasive or milling tool drivable by means of a drive element, an outer hollow cylindrical shaft, an inner hollow cylindrical shaft, and a control element arranged between the outer shaft and the inner shaft, the control element having two or more force transferring longitudinal elements extending substantially from the proximal to the distal area of articulation of the instrument and transferring at least one of traction and pressure forces, wherein: the force transferring longitudinal elements are arranged at essentially regular angular distances in a circumferential direction of the instrument and are connected to one another in the circumferential direction at their proximal and distal ends, and the force transferring longitudinal elements are guided in a radial direction by the outer shaft and the inner shaft.