SURGICAL INSTRUMENT INCORPORATING AN ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED ARTICULATION MECHANISM

摘要

A surgical instrument particularly suited to endoscopic use articulates an e nd effector by including an articulation mechanism in an elongate shaft that incorporates a n electrically actuated polymer (EAP) actuator for remotely articulating the end effector. In particular, a flexible neck to a frame of the elongate neck may be laterally urged to the left or right by EAP actuators and advantageously locked into an articulated state.