may be used to connect corresponding links as shown in fig2 movement of handle 106 and proximal link 108 with respect to proximal link 110 moves end effector 102 and distal link 112 in a relative and corresponding manner likewise movement of proximal link 110 with respect to shaft 116 moves distal link 114 with respect to shaft 116 in a relative and corresponding manner also as shown in fig2 this relative articulation movement provides a way for a user to remotely manipulate the end effector through movement of the handle the relative movement of the distal link that corresponds to the proximal link movement may either mirror the movement of the proximal link or be reciprocal to it depending on whether the cables are strung directly for reciprocal movement or whether they are rotated 180 degrees for mirrored movement between the proximal and distal links in order to maintain a particular position of the end effector with respect to the shaft the articulating tool of this invention may have an articulation lock in the embodiment shown in fig1 6 the articulation lock includes a movable rigid sleeve 130 in the unlocked position shown in fig1 5 sleeve 130 is distal to proximal links 108 and 110 in the locked position shown in fig6 however sleeve 130 has been moved proximally to a position adjacent to and covering links 108 and 110 as well as the proximal end of shaft 116 thereby blocking relative movement between links 108 and 110 and between link 110 and shaft 116 in this locked position relative movement between distal links.