A surgical stapling and severing instrument (10) particularly suited to endoscopic use includes a proximal portion (12) that is manipulated external to a patient to position an attached elongate shaft (16) and end effector (20) to a desired surgical site inside of the patient. An articulation joint (14) pivotally attaches the end effector to the elongate shaft to give further clinical flexibility in reaching tissue at a desired angle. A closure tube assembly (46) includes a multiple pivoting portion that overrides the articulation joint in order distally translate to close the end effector (20) yet pass over an articulated shaft. Thereby, additional clinical flexibility in positioning the end effector (20) is achieved without losing the ability for separate closure and firing motions transferred by the shaft (16). Thereby, design flexibility is achieved by avoiding the design constraints of transferring a mechanical motion through the tight confines of the elongate shaft (16) sufficient to effect articulation.
