Patent ID: 8795325

Claim:
An endoscopic surgical instrument, comprising: handle assembly for operating the surgical instrument, the handle assembly including: a housing; a trigger operatively supported on the housing; at least one actuation shaft operatively connected to the trigger and extending from the housing, wherein an actuation of the trigger imparts axial translation to the actuation shaft; at least one articulation cable operable from the housing, each articulation cable including a distal end operatively connectable with an end effector; and an articulation control element slidably movable on the housing, the articulation control element operatively interposed between and engaging a first ratchet rack and a second ratchet rack, wherein the first ratchet rack and the second ratchet rack are configured to selectively maintain a position of the articulation control element relative to the housing; an articulatable neck assembly supported on and extending from the handle assembly, wherein each actuation shaft and articulation cable extends through the neck assembly; and an end effector operatively supported on the neck assembly, the end effector including a pair of pivotably mounted, juxtaposed jaws, wherein the jaws are movable at least between an open position and a closed position, and wherein a distal end of the at least one actuation shaft is operatively engaged with the pair of jaws to effectuate opening and closing of the jaws, wherein a sliding movement of the articulation control element results in articulation of the articulatable neck assembly.