Surgical instrument with discrete articulation

1. A surgical apparatus, comprising:

an end effector;

a shaft extending proximally from said end effector, said shaft including an articulation region;

a handle including a first button and a second button, wherein actuation of said first or second button causes said end effector to articulate through a discrete increment relative to said shaft, and wherein actuation of said first button causes lateral deflection of said end effector in a first direction and actuation of said second button causes lateral deflection of said end effector in a second direction.

2. The surgical apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a gear that engages said first button and second button, and at least two articulation bands extending from said handle through said shaft, each articulation band connected to said end effector; wherein said articulation bands engage said gear.

3. The surgical apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said gear defines a plurality of outer teeth along at least a portion of its outer perimeter; and wherein at least one of said first button or said second button includes an arm that engages said outer teeth.

4. The surgical apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of upper teeth on an upper surface of said gear; and wherein at least one of said first button or said second button includes an arm that engages said upper teeth.

5. The surgical apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said upper teeth are organized into two separate arcs on said upper surface of said gear.

6. The surgical apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said gear is passive, and said gear is biased to a neutral position.

7. The surgical apparatus of claim 1 ; wherein said end effector is articulable in discrete increments through a predefined angle, and wherein further actuation of at least one of said first button or said second button after said end effector has articulated completely through said predefined angle causes said end effector to return directly to said original position.

8. The surgical apparatus of claim 1 ; wherein said end effector is articulable in discrete increments through a predefined angle, and wherein further actuation at least one of said first button or said second button after said end effector has articulated completely through said predefined angle causes said end effector to move incrementally and discretely toward said original position.

9. The surgical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said end effector comprises a staple holder, an anvil movably connected to said staple holder.

10. The surgical apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a feeder belt extending into said staple holder, and a plurality of staples integral with and frangibly separable from said feeder belt.

11. A surgical apparatus, comprising:

an end effector;

a shaft extending proximally from said end effector, wherein at least part of said shaft is bendable;

a handle including at least one button, wherein actuation of said button causes said end effector to articulate from an initial position through a discrete increment relative to said shaft;

a gear within said handle, wherein each said button is engageable with said gear; and

at least two articulation bands extending from said handle through said shaft, each articulation band connected to said end effector wherein said articulation bands are configured to have a greater height than width; wherein said articulation bands engage said gear.

12. The surgical apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said gear includes a tower with a plurality of teeth, and wherein said articulation bands each include apertures that engage said teeth, such that rotation of said tower causes differential motion of said articulation bands and thereby causes articulation of said end effector.

13. The surgical apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said handle includes a left button and a right button, wherein actuation of said left button causes lateral deflection of said end effector in the right direction and actuation of said right button causes lateral deflection of said end effector in the left direction.

14. The surgical apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said button is movable longitudinally, and further comprising at least one spring biasing said button to an initial position.

15. The surgical apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said gear includes a plurality of teeth; and wherein said button includes a holding arm and an advancing arm configured to engage said teeth.

16. The surgical apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said end effector is articulable in discrete increments through a predefined angle, and wherein further actuation of at least one said button after said end effector has articulated completely through said predefined angle causes said end effector to move incrementally and discretely toward said original position.