Patent ID: 7481348

Claim:
A surgical instrument comprising: a handle portion; a body portion extending distally from the handle portion and defining a first longitudinal axis; an articulating tool assembly defining a second longitudinal axis and having a proximal end, the articulating tool assembly disposed at a distal end of the body portion and being movable from a first position in which the second longitudinal axis is substantially aligned with the first longitudinal axis to at least a second position in which the second longitudinal axis is disposed at an angle with respect to the first longitudinal axis; and an articulation mechanism including: a housing block configured to receive an articulation spindle having an interface member, the articulation spindle rotatably housed within the housing block, wherein the articulation spindle defines a plurality of notches, the plurality of notches configured to mechanically interface with a plunger biased to engage the articulation spindle; an articulation link for articulating the tool assembly, the articulation link having a slit at a proximal end operatively connected to the interface member; and an articulation knob coupled to the articulation spindle for rotating the interface member, wherein rotational motion of the articulation knob is translated into axial motion of the articulation link thereby articulating the articulating tool assembly.