Patent ID: 7766207

Claim:
An articulating surgical stapler having a proximal end and a distal end, comprising: a handle at the proximal end and an end effector at the distal end for selective articulation to improve access to tissue requiring treatment and ease of use of the articulating surgical stapler; a support shaft connects the handle to the end effector, wherein the end effector is a surgical fastening assembly that includes a supporting structure and a cartridge module, and a rotary drive cable links the handle to the end effector for actuation of the cartridge module as the cable rotates about a length of the drive cable; and an articulation mechanism positioned between the support shaft and the end effector permitting selective movement of the end effector relative to the support shaft, wherein the articulation mechanism includes a ball joint coupling the end effector to the support shaft and a locking mechanism associated with the ball joint for permitting selective locking of the end effector in a desired orientation and selective release of the end effector for controlled movement when desired, wherein the locking mechanism includes a ball lock release tube, the ball lock release tube being positioned for axial movement relative to the support shaft for selective movement from a locked position in which the ball lock release tube is in engagement with the ball joint and an unlocked position in which the ball lock release tube is positioned away from the ball joint.