A surgical tool with links between the distal end of the tool shaft and the working member located forward of the shaft. Steering cables attached to the working member are selectively tensioned and slackened to bend the links. Once the links have desired curvature, a lock assembly tensions the plural cables. The tensioning of the cables urges the links against each other. As a result of the abutment of the links against each other, the links resist buckling from the desired curved shape.
