US Patent 8007511 Surgical instrument design

A surgical instrument system having an instrument member or shaft with a distal portion positionable through an incision of a patient to an internal site and for operation by a surgeon from outside the patient. A tool is carried at the distal end of the instrument shaft controlled by the surgeon in performing a procedure at an operative site of the patient. At least first and second turnable members are spacedly disposed along the instrument shaft distal portion, both disposed within the internal site, and each controlled from outside the patient for providing at least respective first and second degrees of freedom of control of the tool. The turnable members may be either a pivot joint or a bendable section.