Surgical instrument with articulation mechanism

1. A surgical instrument for surgically joining tissue, the surgical instrument comprising:

a handle assembly;

an elongated portion extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a first longitudinal axis;

an end effector disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated portion, the end effector defining a second longitudinal axis; and

an articulation mechanism disposed in mechanical cooperation with the end effector for moving the end effector between a first position where the first longitudinal axis is aligned with the second longitudinal axis and a second position where the first longitudinal axis is disposed at an angle with respect to the second longitudinal axis, the articulation mechanism comprising:

a lever;

a first set of teeth;

a second set of teeth;

a first plunger for engaging the first set of teeth; and

a second plunger for engaging the second set of teeth;

wherein a predetermined amount of rotation of the lever in a first direction moves at least a portion of the first plunger away from the first set of teeth, a predetermined amount of rotation of the lever in a second direction moves at least a portion of the second plunger away from the second set of teeth, and wherein the first direction is opposite from the second direction.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein each of the first plunger and the second plunger are spring biased towards their respective set of teeth.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the first set of teeth is disposed on a different plane from the second set of teeth.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the articulation mechanism further comprises a cam member, the cam member including a first camming surface for engaging a portion of the first plunger, and the cam member including a second camming surface for engaging a portion of the second plunger.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4 , wherein the articulation mechanism further comprises a drive member, the drive member including a drive shaft for mechanically engaging the lever, a portion of the drive shaft extends through an aperture in the cam member.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein rotation of the lever causes rotation of the cam member.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the articulation mechanism further comprises a drive member, the drive member including a drive shaft for mechanically engaging the lever.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7 , wherein the lever is rotatable with respect to the drive member.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein after a predetermined amount of rotation of the lever, the rotation of the lever causes rotation of the drive member.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 7 , wherein the drive member includes a first passageway for accepting at least a portion of the first plunger therein, and wherein the drive member includes a second passageway for accepting at least a portion of the second plunger therein.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the first set of teeth are ratchet-like teeth, and wherein the second set of teeth are ratchet-like teeth.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the second set of teeth are disposed on a ring-like cover, the cover including an alignment feature for ensuring proper alignment with the first set of teeth.

13. An articulation mechanism for use with a surgical instrument, the articulation mechanism comprising:

a lever;

a first set of teeth;

a second set of teeth;

a first plunger for engaging the first set of teeth;

a second plunger for engaging the second set of teeth; and

a drive member including a drive shaft for mechanically engaging the lever, the drive shaft defining a shaft axis;

wherein a predetermined amount of rotation of the lever in a first direction moves at least a portion of the first plunger away from the first set of teeth, a predetermined amount of rotation of the lever in a second direction moves at least a portion of the second plunger away from the second set of teeth, and wherein the first direction is opposite from the second direction.

14. The articulation mechanism of claim 13 , wherein the first set of teeth and the second set of teeth are disposed at different locations along the shaft axis.

15. The articulation mechanism of claim 13 , wherein the first plunger and the second plunger are movable in directions that are substantially parallel to each other.

16. The articulation mechanism of claim 13 , wherein the first plunger and the second plunger are movable in directions that are substantially perpendicular to the shaft axis.

17. The articulation mechanism of claim 13 , wherein each of the first plunger and the second plunger are spring biased towards their respective set of teeth.

18. The articulation mechanism of claim 13 , wherein the articulation mechanism further comprises a cam member, the cam member including a first camming surface for engaging a portion of the first plunger, and the cam member including a second camming surface for engaging a portion of the second plunger.

19. The articulation mechanism of claim 13 , wherein the first set of teeth are ratchet-like teeth, and wherein the second set of teeth are ratchet-like teeth.

20. The articulation mechanism of claim 13 , wherein the second set of teeth are disposed on a ring-like cover, the cover including an alignment feature for ensuring proper alignment with the first set of teeth.