An articulating surgical instrument suited for endoscopic use includes alateralarticulation control into a handle portion that provides an intuitive visualand tactileindication to the clinician as to the amount and direction of articulation ofan end effector at adistal end of a shaft. Lateral movement of a lateral control actuator isconverted into alongitudinal motion or a rotational motion transferred by the shaft to anarticulationmechanism. A version of a lateral articulation control for a rotationallydriven articulationmechanism incorporates an articulation backdrive lockout that prevents forceson the endeffector from causing the selected amount of articulation from being changed.
