Articulable laparoscopic instrument

A medical device comprising:

• a handle;
• a shaft extending distally from the handle, the shaft comprising;
• a first shaft segment extending proximally from the handle, the first shaft segment having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a second shaft segment having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the second shaft segment pivotably supported with respect to the distal end of the first shaft segment at a position offset from a longitudinal axis of the shaft in a first offset direction;
• a third shaft segment having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the third shaft segment pivotably supported with respect to the distal end of the second shaft segment at a position offset from the longitudinal axis of the shaft in a second offset direction different from the first offset direction.

A medical device comprising:

• a handle comprising an actuator;
• a shaft extending distally from the handle, the shaft comprising;
• a first shaft segment extending proximally from the handle, the first shaft segment having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a second shaft segment having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the second shaft segment pivotably supported with respect to the distal end of the first shaft segment at a position offset from a longitudinal axis of the shaft in a first offset direction;
• a third shaft segment having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the third shaft segment pivotably supported with respect to the distal end of the second shaft segment at a position offset from the longitudinal axis of the shaft in a second offset direction different from the first offset direction;
• a first member extending through at least a portion of the first shaft segment, the first member operatively associated with the actuator;
• and
• a second member extending through at least a portion of the second shaft segment, the second member having a proximal end pivotably supported with respect to the distal end of the first member and a distal end pivotably supported with respect to the third shaft segment;
• wherein actuator is operative to provide substantially simultaneous compound articulation of the second and third shaft segments.