Patent ID: 8033441

Claim:
A surgical instrument, comprising: a handle portion; a body portion extending distally from the handle portion and defining a first longitudinal axis; a tool assembly defining a second longitudinal axis and including at least one recess therein, the tool assembly being 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 to the first longitudinal axis; an arm disposed in the recess of the tool assembly to releasably retain the tool assembly in the first position until a predetermined force sufficient to deflect the arm outwardly is applied to the tool assembly to articulate the tool assembly, wherein the tool assembly is releasably retained in the first position when the arm is disposed within the recess, and wherein the tool assembly is free to move toward the second position when the arm has been disengaged from the recess; and an articulation mechanism including a spindle and an articulation link for articulating the tool assembly, wherein the articulation mechanism includes a plunger biased to engage the spindle.