A surgical stapling and severing instrument particularly suited to endoscopic articulates an end effector by having a geared articulation mechanism that converts rotational motion from a handle portion. A firing bar longitudinally translates between the handle portion and the end effector. The firing...http://www.google.com.au/patents/US7055731?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7055731 - Surgical stapling instrument incorporating a tapered firing bar for increased flexibility around the articulation joint
