Patent ID: 7549564

Claim:
A surgical instrument, comprising: a shaft; an end effector; a joint connecting said shaft and said end effector, wherein said end effector is movable relative to said shaft about said joint, wherein said joint includes a first joint member and a second joint member, wherein one of said first joint member and second joint member is mounted to said end effector and the other of said first joint member and said second joint member is mounted to said shaft, wherein said first joint member is movable relative to said second joint member about an axis of rotation, and wherein said first joint member comprises: a first portion comprising a first perimeter; a second portion comprising a second perimeter, wherein said second perimeter is different than said first perimeter; a first tooth, wherein said first tooth is positioned intermediate said first portion and said second portion; a second tooth; a recess defined between said first tooth and second tooth, wherein said recess is positioned intermediate said first portion and said second portion; a locking mechanism, wherein said locking mechanism is configured to engage at least one of said first tooth and said second tooth to limit relative movement between said end effector and said shaft.