Patent ID: 8137263

Claim:
An endoscopic surgical instrument, comprising: a handle portion on a proximal end of the endoscopic surgical instrument; an elongated middle portion having a length, and comprising a proximal end which is coupled to the handle portion and consisting of components which extend along substantially the entire length of the elongated middle portion that are formed of flexible materials; an articulating portion coupled to a distal end of the elongated middle portion comprising a plurality of link members coupled together such that the articulating portion is bendable in a plane; a tool portion on a distal end of the endoscopic surgical instrument, coupled to a distal end of the articulating portion; and an articulation control member disposed on the handle portion that is moveable in the plane and coupled to the articulating portion to control movement of the articulating portion; wherein the plane of movement of the articulation control member substantially corresponds to the plane of movement of the bending of the articulating portion.