Patent ID: 8568390

Claim:
An endoscopic instrument, comprising: a housing having a shaft extending therefrom that defines a longitudinal axis therethrough, the shaft including an articulating section disposed thereon; an end effector assembly operatively connected to a distal end of the shaft and configured to treat tissue; a plurality of tendons operably coupled to the articulating section, each tendon of the plurality of tendons translatable along the longitudinal axis to effect articulation of the shaft about the articulating section thereof, each tendon of the plurality of tendons including a respective locking ferrule disposed thereon; and a generally elongated locking catheter disposed within the shaft and between the plurality of tendons configured to selectively engage the locking ferrules, the locking catheter rotatable within the shaft and with respect to the shaft from a first angular position, wherein the locking catheter is disengaged from the locking ferrules to allow axial movement of the plurality of tendons including along the longitudinal axis to articulate the shaft, to a second angular position, wherein the locking catheter is engaged with the locking ferrules to prevent axial movement of the plurality of tendons along the longitudinal axis and prevent further articulation of the shaft; and a camming surface is radially displaced about an outer surface of the locking catheter, the camming surface segmentally relieved along an outer surface thereof to facilitate axial movement of the plurality of tendons including the respective locking ferrules along the longitudinal axis.