Surgical instrument having an articulating end effector

An articulating surgical instrument, the instrument comprising:

• a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and a longitudinal axis;
• an end effector pivotally coupled to the shaft at an articulation pivot at the distal end of the shaft allowing the end effector to pivot relative to the shaft about an articulation axis, wherein the end effector comprises a boss centered on the articulation pivot;
• a first band extending through at least a portion of the shaft, the first band comprising a first end mechanically coupled to the end effector at a point offset from the articulation axis, wherein the first band is mechanically coupled to the end effector at a first point of the boss that is offset from the articulation pivot such that force translated through the first band is translated to the boss to effect rotation of the boss about the articulation pivot;
• an articulation control bar movable substantially perpendicularly across the shaft towards the first band for applying a force in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

A method of operating a surgical instrument, wherein the surgical instrument comprises:

• a shaft;
• an end effector comprising a boss mechanically coupled to the shaft at an articulation pivot allowing the end effector to pivot relative to the shaft about an articulation axis;
• a first band extending through at least a portion of the shaft, the first band comprising a first end mechanically coupled to the boss of the end effector at a point offset from the articulation axis;
• and an articulation slide movable substantially perpendicularly to the shaft, the method for operating the instrument comprising:
• applying a force to the articulation slide in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the shaft, wherein the force causes the articulation slide to contact the first band, causing the first band to bend, and wherein the bending of the first band causes the end effector to pivot relative to the shaft about the articulation pivot in a first direction.