Instrument with multiple articulation locks

1. A tool comprising:

a proximal portion;

a central portion pivotably coupled to the proximal portion;

a distal portion pivotably coupled to the central portion;

an articulation mechanism configured to manipulate an angular orientation of the distal portion relative to the central portion, the articulation mechanism comprising a pair of links, the pair comprising a proximal link on the proximal portion of the tool and a distal link on the distal portion of the tool, the mechanism adapted such that movement of the proximal link causes corresponding relative movement of the distal link;

a first articulation lock having an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein in the engaged position the first articulation lock impedes movement of the proximal link relative to the central portion about a yaw axis and corresponding relative movement of the distal link;

a second articulation lock having an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein in the engaged position the second articulation lock impedes movement of the proximal link relative to the central portion about a pitch axis and corresponding relative movement of the distal link, wherein the engaged position of the first articulation lock is different form the engaged position of the second articulation lock; and

a single actuator configured to move between an unlocked position, in which both the first and second articulation locks are moved into the disengaged positions, and a locked position, in which both the first and second articulation locks are moved into the engaged positions,

wherein the first articulation lock comprises a section pivotably coupled to the proximal portion and the second articulation lock comprises a section pivotably coupled to the first articulation lock.

2. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a lever located atop the proximal portion.

3. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the proximal portion comprises a handle, wherein the handle and the actuator are adapted to be operated by a single hand.

4. The tool of claim 1 , further comprising a rotation mechanism on the proximal portion configured to drive rotation of the central portion relative to the proximal portion when at least one of the articulation locks is in the engaged position.

5. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the second articulation lock comprises a member that slidably receives a part of the central portion.

6. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool further comprises a grasper located on the distal portion and a handle located on the proximal portion, the handle being configured to operate the grasper.

7. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool further comprises a member located on the distal portion selected from a group consisting of scissors, a cautery element, an ultrasound element, laser optics, illumination optics, a light source, and a microphone.

8. A method of using a tool, the method comprising: providing a tool comprising: providing a tool comprising:

a proximal portion;

a central portion pivotably coupled to the proximal portion;

a distal portion pivotably coupled to the central portion;

an articulation mechanism configured to manipulate an angular orientation of the distal portion relative to the central portion, the articulation mechanism comprising a pair of links, the pair comprising a proximal link on the proximal portion of the tool and a distal link on the distal portion of the tool, the mechanism adapted such that movement of the proximal link causes corresponding relative movement of the distal link;

a first articulation lock having an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein in the engaged position the first articulation lock impedes movement of the proximal link relative to the central portion about a yaw axis and corresponding relative movement of the distal link;

a second articulation lock having an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein in the engaged position the second articulation lock impedes movement of the proximal link relative to the central portion about a pitch axis and corresponding relative movement of the distal link wherein the engaged position of the first articulation lock is different from the engaged position of the second articulation lock; and

a single actuator configured to move between an unlocked position, in which both the first and second articulation locks are moved into the disengaged positions, and a locked position, in which both the first and second articulation locks are moved into the engaged positions, wherein the first articulation lock comprises a section pivotably coupled to the proximal portion and the second articulation lock comprises a section pivotable coupled to the first articulation lock; and

moving the first and the second articulation locks of the tool into their engaged positions.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of articulating the distal portion of the tool into an off-axis position by moving the proximal portion before moving the articulation locks into their engaged positions.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of rotating the central portion of the tool about a longitudinal axis after moving the articulation locks into their engaged positions.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of manipulating a handle located on the proximal portion to operate a grasper located on the distal portion of the tool.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of rotating the central portion of the tool about a longitudinal axis after moving the grasper to a closed position and moving the articulation locks into their engaged positions.